733 


Virginia 
State  Library,  Richmond 

Handbook  of  the  Virginia 
State  Library 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Bulletin  of  the 
Virginia  State  Library 

(Issued  Quarterly) 
Edited  by  H.  R.  McILWAINE,  State  Librarian. 


Vol.  XIV. 


JANUARY,  1921 


No.  1 


HANDBOOK 


OF  THE 


VIRGINIA  STATE  LIBRARY 


JN1VERS1TY  OF 

LOS  ANGELES 

JUN  23  1961 


LIBRARY 
GOVT.  PUBS.  ROKN 


Compiled  by  W.  L.  HALL,  Assistant  State  Librarian 


RICHMOND : 

DAVIS  BOTTOM,  SUPERINTENDENT  PUBLIC  PRINTING, 
1921 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  VIRGINIA  STATE  LIBRARY. 


The  titles  marked  with  an  asterisk  can  no  longer  be  supplied. 

Journals   of   the   House   of   Burgesses   of   Virginia.      1619-1776.     4v.   ed.   by  J.   P. 
Kennedy,  and  9v.,  by  H.  R.  Mcllwaine.     1905-1915.    $10  a  vol. 

Legislative  Journals  of  the  Council  of  Colonial  Virginia.    Ed.  by  H   R   Mcllwaine 
1918-1919.     3v.    $10  a  vol. 

First  annual  report  of  the  Library  Board,   for  year  ending  June  30,   1904      1904 
106  p. 

Second    annual    report   of  the   Library   Board,   for  year   ending  October   31     1905 

1905.  134  p. 

Third    annual    report   of   the   Library  Board,   for   year   ending   October    31     1906 

1906.  152  p. 

•Fourth   annual   report  of  the  Library  Board,   for  year   ending  October   31,   1907. 

1907.  134  p.     Appendix   C:    List  of  manuscripts  exhibited   by  the  Library 
at  the  Jamestown   Exposition.     Appendix   D:   Provisional   list  of  works   on 
genealogy  in  the  State  Library. 

•Fifth   annual    report   of   the   Library   Board,   for   year   ending   October    31,    1908. 

1908.  132,  302,   154  p.     Special  report:  A  calendar  of  legislative   petitions, 
Accomac  to  Bedford,  by   H.  J.   Eckenrode.     302  p.     $1.00.     Special   report: 
A  trial   bibliography  of  colonial   Virginia,   1608-1754,   bv   W     C    Torrence 
154  p.  $  .50. 

Sixth    annual    report   of   the    Library    Board,    for   year    ending   October    31,    1909. 

1909.  96,    164,   94   p.      Special    report:   Separation    of   church    and    state    in 
Virginia,    by    H.    J.    Eckenrode.      164    p.      $1.00.      Special    report:    A    trial 
bibliography  of  colonial  Virginia,  1754-1776,  by  W.  C.  Torrence.  94  p.     $  .50. 

Seventh   annual   report  of  the   Library   Board,   for   year   ending  October   31,   1910. 

1911.  142,    52,   47    p.      A    record    of    Virginia    copyright   entries,    1790-1844. 
Introduction    by   J.    H.    Whitty.      52    p.      The    seal    of    Virginia,    by    E.    S. 
Evans.     47  p. 

'Eighth    annual   report   of  the   Library   Board,   for   year   ending  October   31,    1911. 

1912.  54,  488  p.     List  of  the  Revolutionary  soldiers  of  Virginia    comp    bv 
H.  J.  Eckenrode.     488  p.  $2.50. 

Ninth    annual    report   of   the   Library   Board,    for   year   ending   October    31,    1912. 

1913.  10,  335  p.     Supplementary  List  of  Revolutionary  soldiers  of  Virginia, 
comp.  by  H.  J.  Eckenrode,  335  p.     $1.50. 

Tenth    annual    report   of   the    Library    Board,    for    year    ending    October    31     1913 

1914.  48  p. 

Eleventh  annual   report  of  the  Library  Board,   for  year  ending  October   31     1 

1915.  52  p. 

Twelfth  annual   report  of  the   Library   Board,   for   year  ending  October   31     1915 

1916.  51  p. 

Thirteenth  annual  report  of  the  Library  Board,  for  year  ending  October  31,  1916. 

1917.  31,  91    p.     List  of  the   colonial   soldiers   of   Virginia,  comp.    by    !! 
Eckenrode.     91    p. 

•Fourteenth  annual  report  of  the  Library  Board,  for  year  ending  October  31,  1917. 
1917.  35,  450  p.  A  register  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  1776-191S 
by  E.  G.  Swem  and  J.  W.  Williams.  1918.  450  p.  $2.00. 

Fifteenth  annual  report  of  the  Library  Board,  for  year  ending  September  30,  1918. 
1919.  16,  54  p.  Proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Cumberland 
and  Isle  of  Wight  counties,  Virginia,  1775-1776.  Ed.  bv  H.  R.  NK-ilv,  aine 
54  p. 

Sixteenth  annual  report  of  the  Library  Board,  for  vear  ending  September  30 
1919.  1920.  13  p. 

(Continued  on  p.  3  of  Cover.) 


Bulletin  of  the 
Virginia  State  Library 

(Issued  Quarterly) 
Edited  by  H.  R.  McILWAINE,  State  Librarian. 

VoLXIV.  JANUARY,  1921  No.  1 

HANDBOOK 

OF  THE 

VIRGINIA  STATE  LIBRARY 


Compiled  by  W.  L.  HALL,  Assistant  State  Librarian 


RICHMOND : 

DAVIS  BOTTOM,  SUPERINTENDENT  PUBLIC  PRINTING, 
1921 


-- 


733 


State  Library  Board  of  Virginia 


EDMUND  PENDLETON,  Chairman Fine  Creek  Mills,  Va. 

R.  T.  W.  DUKE,  JR Charlottesville,  Va. 

EGBERT  G.  LEIGH,  JR Richmond,  Va. 

CHARLES  V.  MEREDITH Richmond,  Va. 

LYON  G.  TYLER - Holdcroft,  Va. 

H.  R.  MCILWAINE,  Librarian, 
Ex-Officio  Secretary  of  the  Board. 


State  Library  Staff 


H.  R.  MCILWAINE Librarian 

W.  L.  HALL .Assistant  Librarian 

J.  R.  C.  BROWN Head  of  Traveling  Library  Department 

MORGAN  P.  ROBINSON State  Archivist 

Miss  CORALIE  H.  JOHNSTON. Reference  Librarian 

Miss  ROSE  GOODE Secretary 

Miss  VIRGINIA  E.  JONES In  Charge  of  Periodicals 

Miss  ETHEL  I.  NOLIN  j 

Miss  LESLIE  W.  STEVENS      \ ...--.. ..  Cataloguers 

MISS  ESTELLE  BASS  ) 

Miss  ISABELLA  G.  FITZPATRICK    >• Assistants 

Miss  MARY  E.  WRIGHT 


JOHN  D.  SNYDER. Doorkeeper  and  Janitor 

J.  W.  TRAINUM Assistant  Janitor 

1G98930 


CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Introduction     5 

Location    6 

Description    6 

Catalogs 7 

Scope  of  the  Collections 8 

History 8 

Social  and  Political  Sciences   9 

Bibliography    9 

Technology     9 

Education     9 

Agriculture    9 

Literature    10 

Maps 10 

Traveling  Libraries 10 

Manuscripts 10 

Service  of  the  State  Library 13 

Correspondence     14 

Debate  Service    15 

Service  to  the  Blind 15 

Exhibits    15 

Traveling  Libraries    16 

Libraries  for  General  Readers   17 

Libraries  for  Public  Schools 17 

Libraries  for  Small  Public  Libraries 17 

Libraries  for  Study  Clubs 18 

General  Conditions  and  Instructions 19 

General  Summary  of  Service .  . .  •  • 19 

The  State  Library  and  Free  Public  Libraries  in  Virginia  20 

Historical  Sketch    24 

Publications     30 

Rules     30 

Some  Virginia  Library  Law 34 


Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library 

(Issued  Quarterly) 

Edited  by  H.  R.  McILWAINE,  State  Librarian 

VOL.  XIV  JANUARY,  1921  No.  1 


INTRODUCTION 

This  bulletin  is  issued  to  emphasize  the  value  and  service  of  the  Vir- 
ginia State  Library.  Copies  will  be  distributed  to  schools,  colleges,  libraries 
and  other  institutions,  public  officials,  and  to  other  individuals  upon  request. 
In  spite  of  many  handicaps,  such  as  inadequate  appropriations,  lack  of 
room,  insufficient  staff,  the  fewness  of  local  co-operating  libraries,  and  the 
want  of  legal  powers  for  the  organization  of  library  extension  work,  the 
State  Library  is  endeavoring  to  extend  its  service  to  all  the  people  of  the 
State.  In  view  of  the  plans  for  the  new  memorial  building  for  the  State 
Library,  it  is  believed  that  opportunity  and  means  for  fuller  development 
of  its  service  will  soon  be  realized. 


Handbook  of  the  Virginia  State  Library 

«  • 

LOCATION 

The  Library  Building,  which  houses  the  Virginia  State  Library,  is 
located  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  Capitol  Square,  Richmond,  Virginia. 
Under  the  south  wing  of  the  building,  its  location  conveniently  provided 
by  the  natural  slope  of  the  ground,  is  the  State  Museum,  which  contains 
exhibits  of  the  mineral  and  timber  resources  of  Virginia,  as  well  as  speci- 
mens in  natural  history  and  various  relics  of  historical  interest. 

On  the  first  and  second  floors  of  the  building  are  the  offices  of  a  num- 
ber of  departments  and  agencies  of  the  State  government.  The  second  floor 
also  accommodates  the  Supreme  Court  of  Appeals,  and  the  Law  Library, 
which  is  under  the  direct  jurisdiction  of  the  court.  The  entire  third  floor 
is  taken  up  by  the  State  Library.  In  the  rear  of  the  building,  reached  by 
entrance  on  the  first  floor,  is  the  new  Archives  annex,  which  houses  the 
manuscripts  collection  of  the  State  Library. 

DESCRIPTION 

The  main  Library  is  reached  by  elevator  and  staircase.  To  the  right 
is  the  office  of  the  State  Librarian,  where  center  the  executive  activities  of 
the  Library.  Beyond  the  librarian's  office  is  a  stack-room  for  newspapers 
and  government  documents.  Facing  the  entrance  is  an  alcove  which  has 
stacks  for  reference  books  and  which  also  contains  part  of  the  collection 
of  State  documents  and  newspapers.  Here  is  accommodation  for  colored 
readers.  To  the  north  of  the  alcove  is  the  Traveling  Library  Division.  To 
the  south  of  the  alcove  and  reached  also  by  a  hall  from  the  entrance  is  the 
main  reading  room.  At  the  entrance  of  the  reading  room  is  located  the 
loan  desk,  where  books  are  charged  and  returned ;  to  the  left  is  the  reference 
desk,  where  all  requests  for  information  and  books  should  be  made.  The 
reference  librarian  may  be  freely  consulted  as  to  the  resources  of  the 
Library,  methods  of  obtaining  books,  or  information  of  any  kind  needed 
in  the  course  of  investigation.  A  general  collection  of  reference  books  is 
shelved  in  the  reading  room  and  alcove,  which  may  be  consulted  without 
formality.  Occupying  a  part  of  the  reading  room  are  the  racks  for  cur- 
rent periodicals  and  newspapers,  with  the  desk  of  the  assistant  in  charge  of 
periodicals.  Commodious  tables  and  comfortable  chairs  are  provided  for 
readers.  On  the  walls  of  the  entrance  hall,  reading  room  and  alcove  are 
hung  the  Library's  fine  collection  of  paintings,  mostly  oil  portraits  of  the 
governors  and  great  soldiers  of  Virginia.  Busts  of  various  notables  occupy 
convenient  niches.  The  reading  room  also  contains  special  show  cases  for 
certain  unique  documents  and  relics.  Here  also  is  the  model  of  the  Maison 
Carree,  at  Nimes,  France,  brought  to  Virginia  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and 
used  in  designing  the  Virginia  Capitol.  The  main  stack  rooms  are  back 
of  the  reading  room.  They  are  the  store  rooms  for  the  great  majority  of 
the  collections  of  the  Library.  They  are  not  open  to  the  public.  Within 
the  main  stack  room  is  the  administrative  work  room  of  the  Library. 


Handbook. 


CATALOGS 

The  Library  publishes  no  general  catalog  of  the  books  in  its  collections. 
Finding  lists  of  various  classes  of  books  have  been  printed  from  time  to 
time,  but  it  is  impracticable  to  compile  for  public  use  a  printed  catalog  of 
a  large  and  growing  library;  the  rapid  addition  of  material  would  at  once 
make  such  a  catalog  out  of  date.  Card  catalogs,  however,  may  be  kept 
constantly  up  to  date  by  riling  the  cards  for  the  new  acquisitions. 

Two  card  catalogs  are  located  in  the  reading  room.  Along  the  west 
wall,  to  the  right  of  the  entrance,  is  the  depository  catalog  of  the  Library 
of  Congress,  the  Virginia  State  Library  having  been  so  fortunate  as  to  be 
selected  by  the  Library  of  Congress  as  a  depository  of  one  of  its  sets  of 
catalog  cards,  containing  one  card — usually  author  card — for  each  of  the 
books  cataloged  by  the  Library  of  Congress.  This  catalog  may  be  con- 
sulted for  books  in  the  national  library  at  Washington. 

At  the  left  of  the  entrance  is  the  public  card  catalog  of  the  books 
in  the  State  Library.  Through  this  the  resources  of  the  Library  are  made 
available  to  readers.  To  the  uninitiated  a  large  catalog  may  seem  so  com- 
plicated that  no  effort  is  made  to  understand  it.  This  is  a  mistake.  The 
catalog  of  any  large  library  is  necessarily  complex,  but  its  main  principles 
are  easily  understood,  and  a  little  study  soon  reduces  difficulties  to  a  mini- 
mum. Fortunately  modern  college  and  university  libraries  provide  their 
students  with  this  practical  training;  and  the  means  of  locating  the  in- 
formation stored  in  books  is  being  increasingly  recognized  by  earnest  in- 
vestigators as  a  science  meriting  their  study  and  understanding. 

The  card  catalog  is  known  as  a  dictionary  catalog,  the  cards  being 
arranged  as  nearly  as  is  practicable  in  alphabetical  order,  as  the  words  in 
a  dictionary  are  arranged.  The  cards  are  of  three  kinds,  representing  either 
authors  of  books,  titles  of  books,  or  subjects  treated  in  books.  The  author 
cards  include  not  only  personal  names  but  also  names  of  societies  and  gov- 
ernmental bodies,  which  are  authors  of  their  proceedings,  reports  or  other 
official  publications.  Names  of  editors,  compilers,  translators,  prominent 
illustrators,  etc.,  are  also  included  among  the  author  cards.  The  cards 
for  titles  include  titles  of  cyclopedias,  periodicals,  anonymous  books,  fiction, 
drama,  and  other  works  with  striking  titles.  The  subject  cards  are  recog- 
nized at  once  by  the  headings  in  red  ink.  Reference  cards  are  to  guide  the 
consulter  from  commonly  used  forms  of  names  or  subjects  to  the  headings 
used  by  the  Library.  For  example:  Henry,  O.,  pseud.,  see  Porter,  Wil- 
liam Sydney;  Rubber,  see  India-rubber;  Education — Virginia,  see  also 
Education  and  state — Virginia.  The  cards  are  so  arranged  that  the  drawers 
read  down,  in  single  vertical  tiers,  and  the  cards  in  each  drawer  read  from 
front  to  back.  To  obtain  a  book  after  finding  its  card,  copy  the  call  number 
found  on  the  upper  left  corner  of  the  card,  name  of  the  author,  and  short 
exact  title.  If  the  volume  belongs  to  a  set  or  series,  give  the  volume  or 
number  desired.  The  call  slips  provided  for  this  purpose  indicate  plainly 
the  character  of  the  information  needed  to  obtain  the  book. 

The  librarians  on  duty  are  always  glad  to  assist  readers  in  the  use 
of  the  catalog. 


Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 


SCOPE  OF  THE  COLLECTIONS 

The  State  Library  is  not  a  universal  library;  it  cannot  hope  to  collect 
all  books  on  all  subjects.  Such  a  plan  would  be  out  of  the  question. 
National  libraries  may  obtain  most  of  their  acquisitions  automatically  and 
without  cost  through  copyright  laws;  but  the  State  Library  has  no  such 
resource,  and  it  would  be  practically  impossible  for  the  State  to  finance 
such  an  undertaking.  Nor  does  the  State  Library  try  merely  to  be  a  good 
general  library.  It  has  a  field  of  its  own  in  which  it  may  be  notable  and 
certain  lines  in  which  it  may  be  full  and  comprehensive.  It  is  a  specialized 
library  on  those  subjects  most  closely  connected  with  the  history  and  ac- 
tivities of  the  Commonwealth ;  as  a  State  library,  it  seeks  to  collect  every- 
thing in  regard  to  the  history  of  the  State,  in  its  broadest  sense  ;x  originally 
founded  as  an  aid  to  government,  it  maintains  this  character  by  giving 
special  prominence  to  collections  of  political  and  social  science,  and  re- 
lated subjects,  and  collections  of  legislative,  journals  and  documents, 
national,  State  and  local.  All  printed  material  desired  for  official  use  by  the 
legislature  and  State  departments  will  be  acquired,  if  possible,  upon  re- 
quest. Although  certain  subjects  are  given  special  prominence,  there  is  no 
general  rule  to  exclude  any  desirable  material;  the  Library  tries  to  acquire 
representative  books  on  all  subjects  of  interest  and  importance.  In  fact, 
there  is  representation  in  nearly  all  subjects,  this  representation  lacking  in 
balance,  however,  in  many  instances,  as  is  inevitable  in  any  library  which 
has  grown  up  during  a  century. 

Suggestions  for  books  to  be  added  to  the  Library  are  encouraged,  and 
all  requests  will  be  considered.  Readers  may  fill  out  order  cards  kept  at  the 
reference  desk  for  the  purpose,  or  may  transmit  their  requests  by  mail.  The 
author  and  title  of  the  book  desired  should  be  given,  together  with  the 
name  and  address  of  the  reader  making  the  request.  The  reader  will  be 
notified  if  the  book  is  purchased;  if  the  book  is  not  purchased,  the  refer- 
ence librarian  will  gladly  call  attention  to  other  material  on  the  subject 
in  the  Library. 

The  number  of  volumes  in  the  Library  is  about  150,000. 

The  scope  of  the  collections  is  indicated,  in  a  brief,  general  way,  in 
the  following  paragraphs. 

HISTORY. 

The  State  Library  aims  to  acquire: 

Everything  relating  to  the  history  of  Virginia.  The  special  collec- 
tion of  Virginiana  is  arranged  and  cataloged  to  make  its  contents  most 
accessible  to  the  student.  The  collections  of  Virginia  genealogy  and 
biography  are  as  full  as  possible.  The  State  Library  has  a  noteworthy 
collection  of  Virginia  newspapers,  including  such  historic  papers  as  The 

'There  are  doubtless  many  persons  throughout  the  State  who  have  books  re- 
lating to  Virginia  which  they  do  not  specially  care  to  preserve.  The  Library  would 
be  grateful  for  any  such  material  which  it  does  not  already  have  and  which  may 
patriotically  be  given  to  it.  In  cases  where  libraries  are  to  be  sold,  the  Library 
would  appreciate  first  opportunity  to  select  and  buy  what  it  may  need. 


Handbook. 


Virginia  Gazette,  Williamsburgh  (1767  to  1779),2  The  Enquirer,  Rich- 
mond (1804  to  1877),  The  Whig,  Richmond  (1824  to  1888),  and  other 
newspapers  famous  in  their  day. 

Americana,  in  a  broad  sense,  with  special  emphasis  on  the  States  most 
closely  connected  with  the  history  of  Virginia. 

Civil  war  material,  particularly  that  giving  the  Confederate  side. 

The  standard  histories  of  all  countries  and  events,  especially  of  those 
European  nations  more  closely  identified  with  American  history. . 

Broad  representation  in  auxiliary  branches  of  history,  such  as  biography, 
heraldry,  archaeology,  and  antiquities. 

SOCIAL  AND  POLITICAL  SCIENCES. 

The  State  Library  attempts  to  secure  extensive  collections  on  social, 
economic  and  political  science.  In  this  field  are  the  subjects  of  legislation 
and  state  regulation  or  control,  such  subjects  as  taxation,  banking  and 
finance,  government,  conservation,  public  utilities,  insurance,  charities,  labor, 
suffrage  and  elections. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

As  aids  to  research  for  students  and  as  indispensable  tools  in  library 
work,  bibliography  and  library  economy  are  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
the  State  Library.  The  attempt  is  being  made  to  have  this  collection 
comprehensive. 

TECHNOLOGY. 

The  Library  is  making  particular  effort  to  secure  important  books 
and  periodicals  in  this  field.  The  demand  for  vocational  books  has  re- 
ceived a  great  impulse  in  the  last  few  years,  and  the  Library  is  trying 
to  secure  good,  representative  books  on  the  various  subjects.  State  activities 
or  enterprises,  such  as  highway  construction,  receive  particular  attention. 

EDUCATION. 

The  State  Library  collects  the  reports  and  transactions  of  the  most 
important  educational  bodies  and  those  of  governmental  agencies,  national 
and  State.  It  acquires  the  books  listed  in  reading  and  study  courses  pre- 
pared by  State  and  national  authorities.  It  maintains  a  good  general  col- 
lection of  books  on  education. 

AGRICULTURE. 

In  view  of  the  importance  of  this  subject  to  Virginia,  the  Library 
maintains  a  good  collection  dealing  with  all  of  the  various  branches  of 
agriculture  and  catalogs  fully  the  national  and  State  publications  dealing 
with  all  phases  of  the  subject. 

"The  issue  of  July  28,  1776,  contains  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 


10  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 


LITERATURE. 

The  Library  attempts  to  secure  all  works  of  Virginia  authors  and, 
in  a  lesser  degree,  of  Southern  authors.  Very  little  fiction,  except  that  by 
Virginia  authors,  is  acquired.  No  attempt  is  made  to  secure  a  compre- 
hensive collection  of  the  literature  of  all  countries;  English  and  American 
literature,  however,  are  liberally  represented. 

MAPS. 

The  Library  aims  to  acquire  a  full  collection  of  maps  relating  to 
Virginia. 

The  Library  also  has  a  good  collection  of  general  reference  works; 
it  subscribes  to  the  most  important  periodicals ;  it  maintains  good  collections 
on  natural  science,  philosophy  and  religion,  rrlusic  and  the  fine  arts,  cartog- 
raphy, and  military  and  naval  science;  it  has  a  general  collection  of  books 
for  the  blind,  in  various  embossed  types;  it  has  representation  in  medicine 
and  law.3 

TRAVELING  LIBRARIES. 

The  Traveling  Library  Division  contains  about  12,000  volumes  of 
history,  biography,  literature,  fiction,  poetry,  drama,  agriculture,  science, 
travel,  etc.,  devoted  to  the  service  of  communities  and  study  clubs  through- 
out the  State.  This  division  and  its  service  are  described  in  detail  on  pages 
16-19. 

MANUSCRIPTS. 

The  Library  preserves  and  makes  accessible  to  students,  in  its  com- 
modious and  safe  Department  of  Archives,  the  manuscript  archives  of 
the  State.  The  collection  is  now  housed  in  a  new,  model,  fire-proof  build- 
ing, which  is  an  annex  of  the  Library  Building.  Visitors  find  here  ample 
accommodations  and  facilities  for  their  work.4  The  department  contains 
about  1,500,000  pieces  of  manuscript  relating  to  Virginia.  The  collection 
consists  largely  of  public  records  transferred  from  the  several  State  de- 
partments or  local  governmental  offices.  The  law  has  for  years  allowed 
such  a  transfer  so  far  as  the  State  departments  are  concerned,  but  the  law 
was  broadened  in  its  scope  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1918  so  as  to  be 
made  to  apply  to  local  records  as  well  as  State  records  not  needed  in  the 
transaction  of  current  business  in  the  respective  offices  of  their  origin.5  The 
Library  also  tries  to  procure  private  collections  of  letters  or  documents 

The  Law  Library  maintains  an  extensive  collection  of  works  on  this  subject. 

'Since  the  material  has  been  made  more  accessible  and  adequate  accommoda- 
tions provided,  the  users  have  rapidly  increased  in  number:  In  the  year  1917-18, 
there  were  503;  in  1920-21,  there  were  over  1500,  from  many  States  and  several 
countries. 

'Under  this  act,  the  Circuit  Court  of  Henrico  County  has  transferred  all  the 
records  of  that  county  prior  to  1781 ;  the  Charles  City  Court,  certain  classes  of  its 
records  prior  to  about  1890;  and  various  other  transfers  will,  doubtless,  shortly 
be  made. 


Handbook.  11 


relating  to  the  history  of  the  State  or  to  its  public  men.0  Thousands  of 
autograph  letters  and  private  papers  of  famous  Virginians  are  included 
in  the  collection,"  which  in  size  and  value  is  second  only  to  that  of  the 
Library  of  Congress.  This  department  is  the  great  storehouse  for  military 
records  of  Virginians  who  have  served  in  the  various  wars  in  which  the 
colony  and  State  have  engaged.  Indexes  to  various  classes  of  these  military 
records  have  been  compiled ;  the  great  work  of  indexing  the  Confederate 
records  of  the  State  is  being  carried  out  rapidly.8  All  the  material  is  being 
arranged  scientifically  and  being  made  easily  accessible  to  the  investigator.9 
Among  the  most  important  classes  are : 

Auditors'  letters  (letters  to  Auditors,  1781-1884).     28,703  pieces. 

Bounty  warrants  (land  bounties  to  Revolutionary  soldiers).  16,152 
pieces. 

Confederate  polls  (votes  taken  in  field  for  Davis  electors,  1861-  ). 

714  pieces. 

Confederate  records.     20  volumes. 

Convention  papers,   1775-1861.     1,109  pieces. 

Election  returns  for  General  Assembly  of  1863.     1,043  pieces. 

Executive  communications  (communications  received  from  the  Gov- 
ernors, 1776-1863).  Estimated,  50,000  pieces. 

Executive  papers  (communications  received  by  the  Governors,  1776- 
1 863 ) .  Estimated  200,000  pieces. 

George  Rogers  Clark  papers.     21,000  pieces. 

Journals  of  the  Governor  and  Council   (executive),   1776-1835.10 
78  volumes. 

Journals  of.  the  House  of  Delegates,  1778-1813  (original  mss.).  45 
volumes. 


"Persons  having  valuable  papers  of  this  description  may  find  here  a  safe  de- 
pository for  such  treasures;  and  their  patriotic  contributions  to  the  history  of  the 
State  will  be  gratefully  received  by  the  Library  and  will  earn  the  thanks  of 
posterity. 

TThere  are  many  documents  of  unique  interest  and  value ;  such  as,  a  note  of 
Nathaniel  Bacon,  dated  October  27,  1674,  bearing  the  only  signature  of  the  "First 
Virginia  Rebel"  known  to  be  in  existence;  an  address  of  the  Burgesses  to  Governor 
Spotswood,  signed  by  the  speaker,  Peter  Randolph,  dated  November  9,  1710;  the 
marriage  contract  between  Thomas  Jefferson  and  Martha  Skelton ;  the  parole  of 
Lord  Cornwallis  at  the  surrender  of  Yorktown ;  the  last  letter  of  General  "Stone- 
wall" Jackson  to  General  Robert  E.  Lee. 

slt  is  estimated  that  this  index  will  require   about  150,000  cards. 

'The  Library  has  obtained  assistance  in  the  work  of  making  this  material 
accessible  to  the  historian  as  rapidly  as  possible  by  its  system  of  "archival  appren- 
tices," students  of  the  junior  and  senior  history  classes  of  colleges  who  thus  obtain 
an  opportunity  to  handle  original  sources  and  to  acquire  first-hand  information  as 
to  the  means  and  the  methods  of  writing  history.  This  plan  is  fully  described  in 
Virginia's  historical  laboratory  by  Morgan  P.  Robinson,  State  Archivist  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  The  historical  outlook,  V.  11,  Feb.,  1920,  pp.  53-54. 

"Volumes,  1836-1852,  are  in  office  of  Secretary  of  State. 


12  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia,  State  Library. 

Henri co  County  records  (all  prior  to  178 1).11     23  volumes. 
.  Henrico  County  deeds,  wills,  etc.,  1695-1808  "  (originals).  970  pieces. 
Military  papers.    Estimated,  300,000  pieces. 

,.,••. 'Personal  property  books  of  the  cities  and  counties  of  the  State,  cov- 
ering approximately  the  period,  1782-1863,  for  each  jurisdiction. 
12,722  volumes.12 
....      Returns    for  .presidential    and   vice-presidential    electors,    1800-1852. 

1,711  pieces. 
«Vui.  Rejected  claims  for  Revolutionary  bounty  land.     Estimated,    12,000 

pieces. 

Letters  to  Registers  of  the  Land  Office,   1796-1863.     2,481   pieces. 
4  •.. .    Revolutionary  War  matters.     38  volumes. 

War  of  1812  (mss.  muster  and  pay  rolls.)     26  volumes.13 
The  mounted,  selected  manuscript  material  which  composed  the  ex- 
hibit of  the  department  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition,  1907.    460 
pieces. 

Registers  of  Justices.     17,000  pieces. 
Militia  rosters  (returns,  etc.).     75,000  pieces. 
Election  returns  of  General  Assembly.     33,000  pieces. 
Illinois  papers    (Revolutionary  muster  and  pay  rolls  of  the   North- 
West  Territory.)     202  pieces. 
Miscellaneous  Revolutionary  muster  and  pay  rolls  of  the  "Western 

Country."     32  pieces. 

Miscellaneous  Colonial  papers,  1774-1776.     282  pieces. 
Petitions  to  the  General  Assembly.     Estimated,  25,000  pieces.14 
Transcripts  in  manuscript  of  Virginia  records,  etc.,  in  the  archives 
of  Great  Britain.     38  volumes. 

De  Jarnette.     3  volumes  and  mss.  index. 
McDonald.     5  volumes  and  mss.  index. 
Sainsbury.    20  volumes  and  mss.  table  of  contents. 
Winder.     2  volumes. 
Miscellaneous.     6  volumes. 

"These  records  were  transferred  to  the  Library  on  January  13,  1919.  The 
three  worst  mutilated  volumes  have  been  repaired  by  the  most  approved  process, 
and  others  will  be  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  soon  as  the  necessary  money 
becomes  available. 

"It  is  estimated  that  these  separate  tax  books  will  make  1,611  bound  volumes, 
this  estimate  being  based  upon  the  387  bound  volumes  already  in  hand;  the  re- 
mainder will  be  bound  when  the  necessary  money  becomes  available. 

"The  department  has  an  index  of  about  42,000  cards  to  the  two  printed  volumes 
of  pay  rolls  and  muster  rolls  of  Virginia  militia  entitled  to  land  bounty  under  act 
of  Congress  of  1850,  published  by  the  State,  1851-1852. 

"These  relate  to  every  subject  of  interest  to  the  people  of  every  county  and 
city  of  the  State.  About  20,000  have  been  indexed  according  to  the  county  or  city 
from  which  presented ;  a  general  index  of  the  subjects  petitioned  for,  the  counties 
and  cities  from  which  presented,  and  the  names  of  the  petitioners  will  be  prepared 
as  soon  as  opportunity  permits.  Petitions  from  the  inhabitants  of  Kentucky  when 
that  State  was  a  county  of  Virginia,  have  been  published,  with  full  index,  by  the 
Filson  Club  Louisville,  Ky.:  Petitions  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  Kentucky  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  Virginia,  1769  to  1792,  by  James  Rood  Robertson  .  . 

Louisville,  Ky.,  John  P.  Morton  &  Company,  1914.  (Filson  club  publications. 
No.  27.) 


Handbook.  13 


Aliens  naturalized,  1823-1850.15     184  pieces. 

Papers  concerning  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  1783-1810.  222 
pieces. 

Governor's  Mansion   (repairs,  etc.),  1826-1849.     47  pieces. 

Removal  of  Monroe's  remains,  1858.     88  pieces. 

Capitol  Square,  1811-1819.    416  pieces. 

Papers  concerning  the  University  of  Virginia,  1818.     24  pieces. 

Letters  from  competing  architects  describing  designs  of  the  Washing- 
ton Monument,  1849-1850.  36  pieces. 

Removal  of  the  College  of  William  and  Mary,  1824-1825.     108  pieces. 

THE  SERVICE  OF  THE  STATE  LIBRARY. 

The  Virginia  State  Library  is  essentially  a  reference  library.  In  its 
classes  of  books,  its  limited  number  of  copies,  its  rare  volumes,  its  small 
staff  and  appropriation,  it  is  not  a  public  library.  The  latter  type  of  in- 
stitution is  of  particular  advantage  to  the  city  of  its  location,  whereas  a 
State  Library  exists  primarily  for  ends  beneficial  to  the  whole  State.  The 
Virginia  State  Library  exists  equally  for  the  organized  State  government, 
the  schools  and  other  cultural  institutions  of  the  State,  and  for  the  private 
citizen.  As  a  State  department  it  exists  primarily  to  promote  efficiency  in 
government;  as  a  reference  library  it  aims  to  promote  research;  as  part  of 
the  educational  system  of  the  State  it  co-operates  with  libraries,  schools 
and  study  clubs  in  the  broad  work  of  education.  To  the  citizen  of  the 
State  it  offers  books  of  all  kinds, — books  for  entertainment,  books  for  in- 
struction, books  for  research.  It  meets  the  demand  of  the  citizen  for  a 
greater  range  of  reading  than  his  own  resources  or  those  of  the  local  library 
can  supply.  It  offers  material  for  the  special  study  of  topics  not  adequately 
treated  in  small  collections  as  well  as  the  special  treatise  required  by  the 
research  of  the  scholar. 

This  large  central  reserve  of  books,  in  a  well  organized  reference  and 
lending  library,  exists  for  the  free  use,  either  in  person  at  the  Library, 
or  through  loans,  or  correspondence,  of  every  person  and  educational  in- 
stitution in  the  State.  It  serves  as  a  base  of  supplies  upon  which  libraries, 
schools  and  study  clubs — which  are  thus  in  effect  branches  of  the  State 
Library — may  draw  to  supplement  their  resources.10  In  its  special  fields, 
the  Library  contains  many  books,  which  on  account  of  their  rarity,  cost,  or 
specialized  character,  are  to  be  found  only  in  the  largest  libraries.  Such 
books,  with  rare  exceptions,  can  be  lent  within  the  State  to  promote  original 
research  or  serious  study.  Public  and  school  libraries  may  thus  meet  more 
adequately  the  temporary  special  demands  of  their  patrons  and  supply 
material  needed  for  the  study  of  subjects  not  sufficiently  treated  in  their 


"This  class  of  material  also  includes  data  as  to  the  yellow  fever  sufferers 
of  1855. 

"Where  there  is  no  free,  circulating  library,  the  school  library  should  also  serve 
as  a  community  collection. 


14  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 

own  collections.  Every  school,17  every  library,  and  all  of  the  cultural, 
commercial,  professional  and  industrial  organizations  of  the  State  may  de- 
pend upon  the  Library  and  become,  in  consequence,  branches  of  it. 
This  inter-library  loan  system,  by  means  of  which  books  are  obtained 
through  local  institutions,  supplements  the  traveling  library  system  and 
is  designed  to  aid  the  special  student. 

It  is  through  its  reference  work  that  the  Library  performs  the  greater 
part  of  its  direct  personal  service  to  the  people  of  the  State.  The  reading 
room  is  open  daily,  except  Sundays,  from  9  A.  M.  to  7  P.  M.18  and  the 
time  of  several  librarians  is  largely  occupied  in  meeting  the  needs  of  readers, 
borrowers  and  correspondents. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 

The  reference  work  carried  on  by  correspondence  is  very  considerable 
in  volume  and  importance.  Letters  from  all  parts  of  the  country  bring 
requests  for  information.  The  Library  encourages  such  enquiries  from 
persons  who  cannot  visit  it  in  person  and  attempts  to  answer  all  reasonable 
requests,  no  matter  from  where  they  come.  Certain  limitations  in  the 
amount  of  time  that  can  be  devoted  to  enquiries  by  mail  are  made  neces- 
sary by  pressure  of  regular  work.  The  mail  brings  many  requests  involv- 
ing more  extended  search  than  the  Library  can  undertake;  it  brings  many 
requests  which  lack  the  definite  statements  needed  as  clues  to  investigation ; 
it  brings  many  requests  for  transcripts  of  books,  manuscripts,  or  articles 
in  periodicals.  It  seems  desirable,  therefore,  to  indicate  what  the  Library 
can  undertake  to  do  and  what  limits  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  observe 
in  respect  to  enquiries  by  mail.  The  Library  will  gladly  answer: 

1.  Enquiries  as  to  its  possession  of  any  particular  books,  manuscripts, 
newspapers  or  periodicals,  if  the  same  are  accurately  listed.     Full  name  of 
author,  date,  place  and  name  of  publisher  should  be  given  if  possible. 

2.  Requests  for  references  to  bibliographies  or  sources  likely  to  be  of 
use  in  study  of  any  subject  within  the  scope  of  the  Library. 

3.  Requests  for  brief  lists  of  authoritative  material  in  the  Library  on 
any  subjects  within  its  scope. 

4.  Enquiries  concerning  particular  facts  in  history,  especially  the  his- 
tory of  Virginia,  or  concerning  the  government  or  administration  of  the 
State,  provided  the  enquiry  does  not  involve  extended  search. 

5.  Requests    for   information    desired   in   order   to   purchase    unusual 
books ;  the  author  of  a  book  of  known  title ;  date,  publisher,  or  probable  cost 
or  value  of  a  specified  book,  etc. 

6.  Enquiries  as  to  the  source  of  a  given  quotation,  if  it  can  be  readily 
obtained.     Extracts  from  books  in  the  Library  will  be  furnished  only  when 


"Almost  every  teacher  in  the  State  needs  either  for  herself,  her  pupils,  or  for 
the  people  of  the  community,  books  which  cannot  be  supplied  locally.  The  Library 
endeavors  to  provide  such  books.  It  will  send  a  regular  traveling  library  by 
freight;  or  send  by  mail  any  single  book,  or  group  of  books,  which  the  teacher 
may  request. 

"Except  the  months  of  June,  July,  August  and  September,  when  the  Library 
closes  at  5  P.  M.  and  at  12  M.,  on  Saturdays. 


Handbook.  15 


quite  moderate  in  extent  and  only  from  books  not  readily  available  through 
local  libraries  or  through  book  stores. 

The  Library  cannot  undertake  genealogical  work  which  is  usually 
difficult  and  time-consuming.  Beginners  in  genealogical  work  should  bear 
in  mind  that  definite  information  concerning  the  history  and  migrations  of 
several  generations  is  usually  necessary  for  a  genealogical  search.  The 
Library  has  not  the  time  or  resources  to  follow  these  ramifications  of  kin- 
ship ;  for  such  work,  it  must  refer  the  enquirer  to  the  professional  genealo- 
gist. It  must  also  decline  to  make  extended  copies  from  printed  or  manu- 
script genealogies. 

Securing  photographs  of  rare  illustrations,  maps  or  other  material  can 
be  arranged  for  at  the  enquirer's  expense.  Here,  as  in  all  cases  involving 
outside  professional  help,  the  Library  will  endeavor  to  refer  the  enquirer 
to  responsible  persons  whose  charges  are  believed  to  be  moderate. 

DEBATE  SERVICE. 

The  Library  has  a  special  debate  collection  consisting  of  books, 
pamphlets  and  clippings  on  important  social,  economic  and  political  ques- 
tions, on  the  principles  of  debating,  and  on  the  organization  and  conduct 
of  debating  societies.  The  Library  will  assist  debating  teams  in  schools, 
colleges  and  clubs  in  the  selection  of  subjects,  in  bibliographical  work  and 
by  the  loan  of  material. 

SERVICE  TO  THE  BLIND. 

This  collection  contains  books  in  the  New  York  Point,  Line  Letter, 
American  Braille,  English  Braille,  and  Revised  Braille  systems  of  em- 
bossed type.  Most  of  the  blind  readers  in  the  State  use  the  New  York 
Point  because  this  has  long  been  the  basis  of  instruction  at  the  Virginia 
School  for  the  Deaf  and  the  Blind  at  Staunton.  However,  most  of  the 
books  purchased  hereafter  will  be  in  the  Revised  Braille,  grade  one  and  a 
half,  the  system  adopted  by  the  Commission  on  Uniform  Type  for  the 
Blind  to  replace  the  group  of  systems  hitherto  in  use  in  this  country.  Eventu- 
ally new  books  will  be  available  in  the  uniform  type  alone.  Books  for  the 
blind  are  not  restricted  to  loans  within  the  State;  any  blind  person  any- 
where may  borrow  free  of  all  cost  any  book  for  the  blind  which  is  in  the 
Library.  The  blind  persons  who  borrow  from  this  Library  are  not  all 
residents  of  Virginia ;  they  reside  in  various  other  states  of  the  South.  The 
period  of  loan  is  not  restricted ;  the  books  may  be  kept  any  reasonable  length 
of  time.  The  books  are  carried  free  in  the  mails,  the  law  extending  the 
franking  privilege  to  all  reading  material  for  the  blind  circulated  by  a  pub- 
lic institution.  The  label  necessary  for  free  return  is  furnished  with  each 
loan.  Lists  of  books  in  the  Library  for  the  blind  will  be  furnished  on 
request. 

EXHIBITS. 

The  Library  makes  exhibits,  suited  to  the  occasions  which  prompt  them : 
Patriotic  books,  posters,  etc.,  pedagogical  books  and  other  literature  of  in- 


16  Bulletin  of  the  Virginity  State  Library. 

terest  to  teachers  during  educational  conventions;  juvenile  books  during 
Children's  Book  Week,  etc.  Collections  of  paintings,  drawings,  engravings, 
etc.,  are  exhibited  on  occasion.19 

TRAVELING  LIBRARIES. 

Traveling  libraries  supplement  the  inter-library  and  personal  loan 
systems  of  the  State  Library.  The  work  is  organized  to  meet  the  normal 
demands  of  study  clubs,  local  libraries,  and  communities  without  adequate 
library  facilities.  The  collection  of  books  from  which  they  are  formed  is 
selected  with  reference  to  these  demands.  Traveling  libraries  are  small 
collections  of  carefully  selected  books20  which  will  be  sent  by  the  Library 
to  any  place  in  Virginia,  preference  being  given  to  places  where  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  provide  good  books  for  free  circulation.  A  traveling  library  may  be 
general  in  character  or  on  a  special  subject.  Any  community  or  group  of 
people  in  need  of  books  can  obtain  one  by  making  formal  application ;  as 
can  any  school,  local  library,  study  club,  or  other  recognized  organization. 
When  the  books  have  been  read  in  one  place,  they  should  be  returned  and 
application  made  for  a  different  collection.  This  will  insure  a  continuous 
supply  of  good  reading  matter.  Each  library  contains  from  twenty-five  to 
fifty  books  and  is  sent  free  of  charge,  except  that  in  some  cases  the  local 
community  is  asked  to  pay  the  small  freight  charges  from  Richmond  to  the 
shipping  point  and  the  return  charges  to  Richmond.  These  charges  amount 
to  but  a  few  cents  to  each  member.  Usually,  however,  the  transportation 
companies  of  the  State  carry  these  libraries  free.  There  are  no  charges  for 
the  use  of  the  books;  no  charge  if  books  are  properly  cared  for  and  returned. 
The  boxes  in  which  the  libraries  are  shipped  may  serve  as  bookcases  while 
the  books  are  in  use;  each  box  contains  a  miniature  charging  outfit  for 
keeping  the  records  of  loans  in  the  community. 

Traveling  libraries  are  furnished  on  application,  on  blank  forms  fur- 
nished by  the  Library:  Blank  No.  1  must  be  signed  by  five  tax-payers  of 
the  county.  These  tax-payers  constitute  the  local  Traveling  Library  Board 
and  elect  their  own  officers, — President,  Vice-President,  and  Librarian  ;  the 
last  acts  as  Secretary  to  the  Board.  Blank  No.  2  must  be  signed  by  the 
officers  of  the  Board  and  by  one  or  more  persons  who  are  "residents  of  the 
State  of  Virginia,  owning  real  estate  therein  assessed  for  not  less  than 
$1000,  who  endorse  the  application  and  agreement,  and  bind  themselves 
and  their  heirs  and  assigns  to  protect  the  Virginia  State  Library  against  any 
loss  that  may  occur  through  failure  of  the  borrowers  to  make  good  their 
agreement,  or  otherwise,  provided  that  the  total  responsibility  shall  not 
exceed  $100.00."/21  Blank  No.  3  must  be  signed  by  the  Librarian,  and  is 
self  explanatory. 

"The  recent  exhibit  of  the  work  of  the  two  Virginia  artists,  John  Gadsby 
Chapman  and  Conrad  Wise  Chapman,  has  excited  much  interest.  This  exhibit  is 
a  permanent  one. 

"In  purchasing  books,  the  Library  is  glad  to  have  its  patrons  suggest  books 
considered  particularly  helpful  in  their  communities.  Approved  books  not  in  stock 
will  be  ordered  as  funds  permit. 

"Certain  modification  of  the  requirements  of  Blank  No:  2  is  permissible  in  the 
case  of  libraries  for  public  schools.  See  p.  17. 


Handbook.  17 


There  are  various  kinds  of  traveling  libraries  planned  for  different 
classes  of  readers  and  institutions.  They  are: 

1.  Libraries  for  general  readers. 

These  contain  books  of  biography,  history,  travel,  agriculture,  science; 
hygiene  and  sanitation,  literature,  fiction,  etc.,  but  not  more  than  50% 
fiction  will  be  included  in  any  library.  They  are  available  ordinarily  in 
fixed  groups  of  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  volumes;  by  request  they  will -be 
made  up  to  suit  the  needs  or  wishes  of  borrowers,  if  feasible.  The  period 
of  loan  is  six  months. 

The  library  should  be  kept  in  the  most  centrally  located  and  easily 
accessible  place  that  can  be  found;  This  may  be  a  store,  post-office,  home 
or  other  suitable  building.  The  person  in  charge  is  a  resident  of  the  com- 
munity, the  local  librarian,  school  teacher,  or  member  of  the  reading  circle. 
The  custodian  of  a  traveling  library,  indeed  of  any  library,  should  have 
sympathy,  enthusiasm  and  a  real  interest  in  seeing  that  every  person  in  the 
community  gets  the  books  adapted  to  his  needs. 

2.  Libraries  for  public  schools. 

The  State  maintains  a  fund  to  encourage  and  develop  permanent 
school  libraries.22  This  work  is  supervised  by  the  Department  of  Public 
Instruction,  which  realizes  that  a  library  is  a  necessary  part  of  the  equip- 
ment of  a  school.  The  State  teaches  children  to  read  and  awakens  their 
desire  for  reading;  but  the  small  collection  established  through  the  pro- 
vision for  school  libraries  will  seldom  develop  into  such  a  comprehensive 
library  that  the  children  or  the  people  of  the  community  will  see  many  of 
the  books  they  wish,  unless  they  can  borrow  from  outside  sources.  So 
traveling  libraries  come  in  to  furnish  a  continuous,  fresh  stream  of  whole- 
some modern  literature,  supplementing  the  resources  of  the  school  library. 

Books  lent  to  schools  are  primarily  for  general  reading  by  the  children 
and  the  people  of  the  district  and  are  not  intended  to  take  the  place  of  the 
school  library  in  supplying  supplementary  reading  for  school  work,  though 
such  books  will  be  supplied  from  the  general  traveling  library  collection, 
whenever  available.  It  is  impracticable  to  buy  duplicate  copies  of  books 
recommended  for  school  reading  in  sufficient  numbers  to  satisfy  requests  from 
schools.  The  permanent  library  of  a  school  is  expected  to  possess  these  books. 
Reference  libraries  in  history,  literature  and  natural  science  will  be  made 
up  on  request,  when  possible. 

In  making  application  for  these  libraries,  Blank  No.  2  may  be  signed 
by  the  teachers,  who  thus  become  the  personal  guarantors  of  protection  to 
the  Virginia  State  Library.  Whenever  possible,  application  should  be  made 
in  June  for  books  wanted  at  the  opening  of  the  fall  term.  The  period  of 
loan  is  the  school  year,  and  school  libraries  should  be  returned  by  July  1. 

3.  Libraries  for  small  public  libraries. 

The  State  traveling  libraries  form  a  helpful  supplement  to  the  collections 
of  libraries  which  can  buy  but  few  books.  Libraries  may  obtain  either  the 

22See  pp.  35,  36.  :  „....:„,, 


18  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 

fixed  collections  or  submit  lists  from  which  the  division  will  supply  the 
desired  books,  if  possible. 

The  loan  period  is  six  months. 

4.     Libraries  for  study  clubs,  private  schools,  Sunday  schools,  and  other 

organizations. 

Study  clubs  and  other  organizations  have  certain  privileges :  The  use 
of  the  books  may  be  restricted  to  members,  and  the  hours  and  times  of  lend- 
ing are  entirely  in  the  control  of  the  organization. 

STUDY  CLUBS. 

Only  a  few  of  the  younger  people  of  the  State  are  able  to  leave  their 
work  and  attend  colleges.  Many  older  people  and  many  young  people  as 
well  .are  anxious  to  educate  themselves  either  in  general  or  in  some  special 
line  of  work.  In  order  to  encourage  study  in  the  literary  associations  of 
the  State,  the  Library  will  register  any  group  of  people  organized  to  study 
any  particular  subject  and  will  prepare  and  send  to  them  a  special  col- 
lection of  books  covering  the  subject  to  be  studied. 

Each  study  club  should  have  five  or  more  members;  and  it  should 
adopt  a  course  of  study  approved  by  the  Library,  consisting  of  not  less 
than  ten  meetings,  covering  a  period  of  not  less  than  ten  weeks. 

The  primary  requisite  for  such  approval  is  that  the  subject  be  suffi- 
ciently limited  in  scope  to  permit  of  its  intelligent  study  within  the  time 
allotted.  It  is  a  common  error,  particularly  among  amateurs  in  club  work, 
to  crowd  a  program  full  of  topics  under  the  mistaken  impression  that  the 
work  is  in  that  way  made  more  interesting.  Experience  makes  it  clear  that 
such  courses  result  in  weariness  or  inattention  and  at  the  end  the  members 
have  received  so  many  fleeting  impressions  that  nothing,  except  possibly 
the  topics  of  their  own  papers,  stands  out  clearly  and  there  is  little  incen- 
tive to  follow  up  any  suggestion  received.  Such  a  course  may  be  literary 
but  it  is  not  study.  A  course  should  be  limited  to  a  single  subject :  in  history, 
to  one  country  or  topic;  in  art,  to  one  school;  in  literature,  to  one  lan- 
guage or  subject,  etc.  It  is  desirable  to  narrow  the  work  to  much  closer 
limits.  Countries  of  great  historical  interest  should  be  studied  during  two 
or  three  years  consecutively;  or,  if  taken  in  a  single  year,  the  outline  of 
study  should  exclude  all  interests  not  closely  associated  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  main  topic ;  for  example,  one-year  courses  on  England  generally 
include  a  little  literature  and  exclude  art;  one-year  courses  on  Florence 
generally  include  art  and  exclude  literature.  Certain  countries,  also,  have 
been  the  scene  of  more  than  one  civilization  and  include  too  many  varied 
interests  to  form  a  satisfactory  topic  for  one  year's  work.  In  literature,  art, 
economics  and  other  topics,  courses  should  be  similarly  restricted. 

The  most  successful  study  clubs  also  plan  their  courses  in  sequence, 
carrying  the  same  or  naturally  associated  subjects  through  a  period  of  years; 
for  example,  three  years  on  England,  a  fourth  on  Scotland,  a  fifth  on 
Ireland. 

Before  the  club  disbands  in  the  spring,  the  subject  of  study  for  the 
following  year  should  be  chosen  and  a  tentative  outline  submitted  to  the 


Handbook.  19 


Library  for  approval  before  the  final  decision  of  the  club.  Libraries  will 
be  selected  with  special  reference  to  approved  courses,  but  broad  outlines 
should  be  indicated,  rather  than  a  list  of  special  topics,  some  of  which  are 
often  unimportant  and  incapable  of  being  covered  satisfactorily  in  a  travel- 
ing library.  When  practicable,  the  details  of  the  program  should  not  be  de- 
cided until  the  arrival  of  the  traveling  library. 

Applications  should  be  filed  early,  as  libraries  will  be  made  up  in  the 
order  in  which  the  applications  are  received.  'Accompanying  the  orT.cial 
application  blanks,  should  be  the  outline  of  study  for  which  the  library 
is  to  be  selected. 

The  books  may  be  kept  for  the  club  year,  but  should  be  returned  one 
week  after  the  last  meeting. 

If  possible,  a  permanent  corresponding  secretary  should  be  appointed 
to  conduct  the  correspondence  with  the  State  Library.  Whenever  this  cor- 
responding secretary  is  changed,  the  name  of  the  new  officer  should  be  fur- 
nished to  the  State  -Library.  The  name  of  the  club  and  the  place  should 
be  on  every  letter  and  every  program,  list  of  books  or  other  manuscript 
transmitted. 

GENERAL  CONDITIONS  AND  INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  TRAVELING  LIBRARIES. 

1.  Address  all  correspondence  to  the  State  Librarian. 

2.  Applications  must  be  made  on  the  forms  supplied  by  the  State  Library. 

3.  No  charge  may  be  made  for  the  use  of  the  books. 

4  If  the  books  should  be  destroyed  with  the  building  in  which  they  were 
kept,  the  guarantor  is  not  held  responsible  when  suitable  precau- 
tions have  been  taken. 

5.  Libraries  are  sent  by  freight  unless  otherwise  requested.     Transporta- 

tation  charges,  if  any,  are  paid  by  the  borrower. 

6.  Boxes  should  be  carefully  preserved  and  returned.     They  are  charged 
to  the  borrower. 

GENERAL  SUMMARY  OF  SERVICE. 

The  State  Library  will  supply  books  to  any  citizen  of  Virginia  who 
needs  them. 

The  State  Library  will  supply  books  to  any  student  or  scholar  in  Vir- 
ginia who  finds  the  resources  of  his  personal  and  local  libraries  insufficient. 

The  State  Library  will  furnish  books  to  any  adult  in  Virginia  who 
has  a  special  interest  in  a  certain  subject,  business,  scientific,  literary,  social 
or  economic. 

Wherever  a  man  of  science,  an  engineer  or  a  man  of  letters,  in  any 
part  of  Virginia,  is  engaged  in  research  of  any  kind,  and  needs  a  special 
treatise,  monograph,  or  a  publication  of  a  learned  society,  or  the  like,  not 
available  in  his  local  library,  the  resources  of  the  State  Library  are  open 
to  him. 

WhereVer  a  newspaper  man  or  magazine  writer  in  Virginia  needs 
information,  the  resources  of  the  State  Library  are  open  to  him. 

Wherever  public  officials  in  Virginia  need  information  or  material  in 
the  discharge  of  their  duties,  the  resources  of  the  State  Library  are  open 
to  them. 


20 Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 


Wherever  in  Virginia  a  rural  community  is  without  library  facilities, 
and  a  group  of  five  taxpayers  shall  make  application,  a  traveling  library 
will  be  sent  for  the  use  of  the  community. 


A  free  public  library  is  one  which  may  be  used,  without  the  payment 
of  a  fee,  by  any  reputable,  responsible  citizen  of  the  community  in  which 
the  library  is  located.  Some  of  the  books  may  be  for  reference  use  only, 
but  the  majority  may  be  borrowed  for  home  use  also.  Every  responsible 
citizen  of  the  community  may  either  make  reference  use  of  the  free  public 
library  or  borrow  books  for  home  use  under  just  the  same  rules.  Whether 
a  library  be  supported  by  endowment,  by  subscription,  or  by  taxation,  if 
its  facilities  are  to  be  enjoyed  on  equal  terms  by  all  members  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  'it  is'  located,  it  should  be  looked  upon  as  a  free  public 
library.  It  is  a  library  which,  though  it  may  not  be  owned  by  the  public, 
is  free  to  the  public.  Most  free  public  libraries,  however,  are  not  only 
used  without  fee  by  the  public,  but  are  actually  owned  by  the  public  and 
supported  .by  taxation,  though  the  buildings  may  have  been  presented  by 
Andrew  Carnegie  or  by  some  other  benefactor. 

The  development  of  the  idea  that  education  is  a  life  process  to  which 
many  agencies  and  factors  contribute  has  led  to  the  recognition  of  the 
library  as  an  essential  part  of  a  system  of  education.  Taking  the  United 
States  as  a  whole,  one  qf  the  most  noteworthy  features  of  the  intellectual 
life  of  the  people  at  the  present  time  is  the  rapid  growth  of  the  free  public 
library  system  and  the  use  made  of  such  institutions.  The  distribution  by  the 
American  Library  Association  of  more  than  7,000,000  books  to  soldiers, 
sailors  and  marines  during  the  European  War  has  cultivated  the  habit  of 
reading  and  study  among  millions  of  young  Americans  who  saw  service. 
In  the  era  of  intense  economic  activity  following  the  war,  the  public  library 
has  been  called  upon  to  play  a  very  important  part  as  an  agency  for  pro- 
moting education.  Through  books  and  libraries,  employers  and  employees 
may  acquire  the  technical  knowledge  which  results  in  greater  efficiency  and 
increased  production.  This  has  been  demonstrated  by  the  biggest  concerns  in 
the  country.  Books  have  long  been  used  as  tools  in  the  professions,  but  it  is 
only  recently  that  business  men,  farmers  and  manufacturers  have  recognized 
that  books,  the  condensed  knowledge  of  experts,  are  the  most  power- 
ful of  all  tools  in  the  crafts,  in  trades,  industries  and  commerce.  The 
solution  of  the  social  and  industrial  problems  that  are  agitating  the 
country  demands  an  intelligent  understanding.  To  be  a  good  citizen  one 
needs  to  be  grounded  in  the  ideals  of  American  democracy  and  well  in- 
formed on  current  and  political  affairs.  As  an  earnest  of  future  good 
citizenship  it  may  be  stated  that  nearly  half  of  the  patrons  of  public  libraries 
are  children.  "The  stability  of  any  country  depends  on  the  intelligence 
of  its  people."  Self-education  is  the  present  need  and  this  may  be  done 
voluntarily  through  the  use  of  libraries. 

There  should  be  a  public  library  in  every  village  and  city  to  make  it 
possible  for  the  worker  to  have  books  on  his  occupation;  for  the  teacher 


Handbook.  21 


and  pupils  in  schools  to  secure  the  books  they  need ;  for  doctors,  lawyers 
and  ministers  to  get  the  books  they  require;  for  housewives  to  have  access 
to  books  on  domestic  economy;  for  officials  to  have  books  on  public  ques- 
tions. The  open  country  is  not  forgotten  in  this  comprehensive  scheme: 
The  development  of  county  library  systems  should  place  good  libraries  in 
county  seats  or  other  centers,  with  branches  throughout  the  county,  using 
public  schools,  stores,  etc.,  as  distributing  points. 

It  is  readily  apparent  that  collections  of  fundamental  books  must  exist 
if  any  general,  serious  study  is  done  by  the  community;  for  the  State 
Library  can  not  lend  essential  tools  needed  by  everybody,  such  as  reference 
books,  dictionaries,  cyclopedias,  etc.  It  is  only  through  such  a  system  of 
local  libraries  that  the  interlibrary  loan  method  of  the  State  Library 
can  fully  function  in  reaching  the  people  of  the  State. 

As  yet,  many  States  lack  adequate  library  systems;  whole  sections  have 
no  libraries;  millions  of  Americans  do  not  have  free  access  to  books  and 
magazines.  According  to  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Education,  a 
very  small  proportion  of  the  people  who  live  in  the  open  country  and  in  vil- 
lages and  small  towns  have  access  to  any  sufficient  collection  of  books.  Sixty 
million  Americans  are  without  adequate  library  facilities.  But  the  idea  is 
taking  firmer  and  firmer  hold  of  the  people  of  this  country  that  in  each  com- 
munity there  should  be  some  depository  of  books  where  the  mass  of  the  citi- 
zens may  freely  go  in  order  to  continue  the  education  begun  in  the  schools,  or 
at  least  to  seek  relaxation  and  recreation.  Where  no  public  benefactor  gives 
one  of  these  depositories,  the  people  of  the  community  sooner  or  later  make 
provision  for  themselves.  In  at  least  one  State  of  the  Union,  it  may  be  said 
that  there  is  no  community  whatever,  either  city,  village,  or  country  town- 
ship, without  its  free  public  library. 

The  rapid  increase  in  the  number  of  free  public  libraries  has  un- 
doubtedly been  fostered  by  the  generosity  of  the  late  Andrew  Carnegie, 
who,  as  is  well  known,  offered  to  give  to  any  community  in  the  United 
States  an  amount  of  money  sufficient  to  construct  a  library  building  suitable 
to  the  needs  of  the  community  if  as  much  as  ten  per  cent  annually  of  the 
first  cost  of  the  building  should  be  guaranteed  by  the  community  for  the 
purchase  of  books  and  the  upkeep  of  the  institution.  In  consequence  of  this 
offer,  Carnegie  libraries  are  to  be  found  in  all  sections  of  the  country. 

Owing  in  large  measure  to  the  peculiar  racial  problem  of  the  South, 
Carnegie  libraries  in  that  section  are  comparatively  few.  It  has  been  argued 
that  such  a  public  institution  would  be  overrun  by  the  negroes,  so  that  the 
result  would  be  that  the  community  would  have  on  its  hands  an  institution 
it  was  pledged  to  maintain,  but  from  which  its  white  citizens  reaped  few 
advantages.  .  Others  have  argued  against  the  acceptance  of  such  a  bounty 
from  a  stranger ;  or  that  the  acceptance  of  money  made  from  the  labor 
of  others  condoned  the  means  by  which  such  a  fortune  was  amassed.  The 
racial  problem  of  the  South  has  also  retarded  the  formation  of  free  public 
libraries  by  taxation. 

In  addition,  the  people  of  the  South  have  from  the  beginning  been 
strongly  individualistic,  and  hence  have  looked  askance  at  propositions  in- 
volving the  extension  of  the  sphere  of  governmental  influence,  whether 


^ Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 

national,  State  or  local.  The  overwhelming  merit  of  a  plan  of  a  socialistic 
or  paternalistic  character  would  have  to  be  very  evident  to  the  average 
Southern  community  before  it  would  be  well  received.  It  has  taken  the 
free  public  school  system  a  much  longer  time  to  win  its  way  to  favor  with 
the  middle  and  upper  classes  in  the  South  than  elsewhere.  This  does  not 
mean  that  the  South  is  not  as  fond  of  education  as  the  rest  of  the  country 
that  opposition  to  this  special  method  of  education  has  been  more  wide- 
spread. The  individualistic  idea  that  a  man  should  educate  his  own  chil- 
dren and  not  call  on  the  State  to  do  it  for  him  has  more  largely  prevailed 
heretofore  in  the  South  than  elsewhere  in  the  country.  In  the  same  way, 
the  idea  that  a  man  should  buy  his  own  books  rather  than  that  the  com- 
munity should  furnish  them  has  militated  against  the  establishment  of  free 
public  libraries. 

Just,  however,  as  the  free  public  school  system  has  won  its  way  to  ap- 
preciation in  the  South,  the  free  public  library  idea  is  also  winning  its 
fight.  Except  in  rare  instances,  the  individual  can  no  better  own  a  satis- 
factory library  than  he  can  command  an  adequate  system  of  education  for 
his  children.  So  both  the  education  of  the  young  in  public  schools  and  of 
older  persons  by  means  of  public  libraries  are  coming  more  and  more  to  be 
recognized  as  functions  of  the  community,  and  not  alone  of  the  individual; 
and  just  as  separation  of  the  two  races  in  the  schools  has  been  found  to  be 
practicable,  the  same  thing  is  being  found  to  be  practicable  in  the  case 
of  libraries.  Either  separate  buildings  may  be  provided,  or  separate  rooms  in 
the  same  building.  In  operation,  the  handling  of  the  negro  question  in  rela- 
tion to  the  libraries  has  not  been  found  extremely  difficult  after  all.  Ac- 
cordingly, free  public  libraries  are  now  being  established  all  over  the  South. 

When  Virginia  is  compared  with  the  other  Southern  States  in  respect 
to  the  number  of  free  public  libraries  in  operation,  the  latest  available  sta- 
tistics show  that  she  is  undeniably  backward,  or,  as  some  might  prefer  to  say, 
conservative.  With  the  possible  exception  of  three  or  four,  Virginia  seems 
from  several  points  of  view  to  be  the  least  progressive  of  the  Southern  States 
in  library  matters.  Though  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  passed  some 
years  ago  a  very  good  general  library  law,23  according  to  which  any  town 
or  city  in  the  State  may  tax  itself  to  support  a  library,  there  are  very  few 
libraries  in  the  State  supported  by  taxation. 

Aside  from  her  conservatism,  another  reason  why  Virginia  has  been 
outstripped  by  her  sister  Southern  States  is  that  no  library  commission  has 

been  established  in  the  State,  whereas  most  of  the  other  Southern 
:ates  have  such  an  agency  for  the  promotion  of  library  work.     The  func- 
tion of  the  library  commission  consists  in  fostering  in  every  way  the  estab- 
lishment and  growth,  and  the  proper  organization  and  operation  of  libraries 
throughout  the  State.     Much  of  the  service  of  the  commission  may  be  done 
?ng  distance,  but  when  necessary,  the  secretary  or  organizer  goes  to  the 
y  and  carries  on  a  regular  campaign  among  the  citizens  in  an 
deavor  to  promote  new  library  organization.     Each  institution  must  be 

"See  page  35. 


Handbook.  23 


fostered  until  it  becomes  thoroughly  able  to  look  after  itself.  The  com- 
mission makes  suggestions  as  to  sites,  gives  assistance  as  to  planning  or  re- 
modelling buildings,  suggests  the  kind  and  amount  of  equipment  needed, 
indicates  the  proper  methods  of  administration,  recommends  lists  of  books 
for  purchase  and  methods  of  purchase,  suggests  the  best  arrangement  of 
books  and  a  suitable  catalog,  and,  in  some  cases,  gives  actual  work  in  clas- 
sifying and  cataloging  the  books  started  off. with,  instructing  at  the  same 
time  the  person  in  charge — in  such  cases  it  being  probable  that  the  library 
would  be  merely  able  to  employ  as  librarian  some  local  worker  unfamiliar 
with  modern  library  methods.  The  commission  inspects  all  registered 
libraries,  maintains  advisory  supervision  and  guidance  of  existing  institutions, 
distributes  money  allotted  to  them  by  the  State,  and  approves  lists  of  books 
to  be  bought  with  this  money.  In  a  word,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  library 
commission,  largely  through  its  library  organizer,  to  stir  up  enthusiasm 
which  will  lead  to  the  establishment  of  libraries,  to  give  expert  advice,  and 
to  see  that  the  best  possible  results  are  obtained  with  the  money  invested. 
The  State  Library  would  be  extended  by  each  new  library,  which  would  be, 
in  effect,  a  branch  of  it;  and  the  organizer  would  advertise  thoroughly 
throughout  the  State  the  work  and  service  of  the  parent  institution. 

In  Virginia,  the  effort  has  been  made  at  several  meetings  of  the  General 
Assembly  to  secure  a  library  commission — not  one  in  name,  however,  but 
in  fact — by  having  the  State  Library  Board  clothed  with  all  the  usual 
powers  of  such  a  commission.  It  is  the  natural  and  logical  course  that  the 
Virginia  State  Library  should  be  the  actual  as  well  as  the  nominal  head  of 
the  library  system  of  the  State  and  that  the  work  of  library  extension 
should  be  done  by  it.  Virginia  is  fortunate  in  having  a  Library  Board  so 
constituted  that  its  actions  are  as  far  as  possible  removed  from  political  in- 
fluence, and  which  is,  in  effect,  an  actual  agency  of  the  State's  educational 
system.24  The  Library  Board  is  unpartisan,  is  already  familiar  in  a  broad 
way  with  library  conditions  in  the  State,  and  already  has  charge  of  a  part 
of  the  work  frequently  assigned  in  other  states  to  a  library  commission. 
There  being  in  the  State  a  body  of  this  sort,  to  which  at  the  beginning  the 
sole  duty  was  assigned  of  building  up  a  model  State  Library,  which  it  has 
done  so  far  as  means  have  been  provided  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  this 
body  already  having  had  added  to  its  functions  the  duty  of  supervising  a 
traveling  library  system,  which  it  has  also  done  satisfactorily  so  far  as  means 
and  circumstances  have  permitted,  it  is  undoubtedly  the  part  of  wisdom  to 
entrust  to  it  further  library  extension  work  in  the  State.  The  General 
Assembly  has  never  shown  any  indisposition  to  enlarge  the  powers  and 
responsibilities  of  the  Board  to  the  extent  indicated  but  it  has  balked  when 
it  came  to  making  the  necessary  appropriation.  A  more  determined 
effort  than  ever  before  will  be  made  at  the  next  session  of  the  General 
Assembly  to  secure  this  legislation  and  it  is  believed  that  the  time  is  ripe  for 
success. 


"The  members  are  appointed  by  the  State  Board  of  Education.     They  serve 
without  compensation. 


24  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH.25 

The  beginnings  of  the  Virginia  State  Library  are  to  be  sought  in  early 
colonial  times.  In  the  collection  to-day  there  are  about  fifty  books  be- 
longing to  the  Council  of  colonial  Virginia,  having  in  them  the  Council's 
book-plate.  The  Council  was  a  body  performing  executive,  legislative, 
and  judicial  functions.  It  assisted  the  governor  in  the  administration  of 
the  laws;  as  the  upper  house  of  the  General  Assembly,  it  took  part  in  the 
passage  of  laws;  and  as  the  highest  court  in  the  Colony,  it  interpreted 
these  laws.  Its  varied  and  responsible  functions  demanded  that  it  should 
have  the  best  assistance  that  could  be  obtained  from  books,  and  this  de- 
mand was  recognized  in  the  early  formation  of  a  working  library.  It  is 
not  now  apparent  at  what  date  the  collection  of  these  books  was  begun ;  nor 
can  it  be  said  how  many  books  were  secured  for  this  library  during  its  entire 
history,  or  what  number  it  contained  at  the  time  of  its  greatest  expansion. 
It  is  altogether  probable,  however,  that  the  number  secured  first  and  last 
was  considerable;  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  state  house  in  Wil- 
liamsburg  was  burned  several  times,  and  that  the  removal  of  the  capital 
from  Williamsburg  to  Richmond  must  have  been  costly  in  books,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  vicissitudes  to  which  the  books  have  been  subjected  since 
first  brought  to  the  present  capital  of  the  State. 

As  soon  as  Virginia  became  a  State,  some  of  her  enlightened  citizens 
saw  clearly  the  advantages  that  would  ensue  from  the  founding  of  a  public 
library — one  to  be  used  not  only  by  the  members  of  the  General  Assembly, 
the  judges  of  the  various  courts,  and  the  department  officials,  but  also  by 
the  citizens  at  large.  Notably,  Thomas  Jefferson  had  this  vision.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  committee  of  revisers  of  the  laws  of  Virginia,  appointed  in 
1776  to  make  a  consistent  code  of  the  laws  already  on  the  statute  books  and 
to  suggest  additional  laws  suited  to  the  new  conditions.  Thomas  Jefferson's 
fellow  members  were  Edmund  Pendleton,  George  Wythe,  George  Mason, 
and  Thomas  Ludwell  Lee,  the  most  of  the  work  of  the  committee  being 
done,  however,  by  Jefferson,  Pendleton,  and  Wythe.  The  report  of  the  com- 
mittee was  ready  for  the  action  of  the  Assembly  of  1779,  and  it  was  printed 
m  full  in  1784.  It  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  bills  recom- 
mended by  the  committee  for  passage  by  the  General  Assembly.  The  bills 
relating  to  public  education  were  three  in  number,  all  written  by  Jefferson. 
The(first  had  the  title,  "A  Bill  for  the  More  General  Diffusion  of  Knowl- 
edge"; the  second,  "A  Bill  for  Amending  the  Constitution  of  the  College 
of  William  and  Mary  and  Substituting  More  Certain  Revenues  for  its 
Support";  and  the  third,  "A  Bill  for  Establishing  a  Public  Library." 

The  bill  for  the  establishment  of  a  public  library  provided  that  ten 
thousand  dollars  a  year  should  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  books  and 

''This  historical  sketch  is  almost  an  exact  copy  of  an  article  appearing  in 
Tyler's  quarterly  historical  and  genealogical  magazine.  V.  1  (July,  1919),  pp.  18-25. 
The  article  was  prepared,  however,  by  the  State  Librarian  and  may  hence  very 
properly  be  made  use  of  in  the  present  connection.  Changes  have  been  made  here 
and  there,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  article  especially,  in  order  to  bring  all  information 
up  to  date. 


Handbook.  25 


maps  for  a  public  library  to  be  established  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  and 
for  defraying  the  expenses  necessary  for  their  care  and  preservation.  The 
library  was  to  be  under  the  management  of  a  board  of  visitors,  consisting 
of  three  persons  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly,  who  were  to  serve 
without  pay,  and  who  were  to  select  a  competent  librarian  to  take  actual 
charge  of  the  institution.  The  library  was  to  be  a  reference  library,  pure 
and  simple,  the  privilege  of  withdrawing  books  for  home  use  not  being 
granted  even  to  the  librarian  or  to  the  members  of  the  board  of  visitors. 
But,  in  the  language  of  the  bill,  the  library  was  to  be  "made  useful  by 
indulging  the  researches  of  the  learned  and  curious,  within  the  said  library, 
without  fee  or  re\vard,  and  under  such  rules  for  preserving  them  safe  and 
in  good  order  and  condition  as  the  visitors  shall  constitute."  Jefferson  had 
a  vision  more  penetrating  than  that  of  most  men  of  his  time,  but  even  he 
was  unable  to  foresee  the  day  when  books  would  be  carried  to  the  front 
doors  of  the  users.  The  financial  condition  of  Virginia  at  that  time  did 
not  seem  to  the  majority  of  her  legislators  to  warrant  the  expenditure  of 
money  for  the  purpose  indicated,  and  consequently,  the  bill  failed. 

The  first  actual  provision  made  by  law  for  the  establishment  of  the  Vir- 
ginia State  Library  is  contained  in  the  act  of  1823,  entitled  "An  Act  for 
Completing  the  Publication  of  the  Statutes  at  Large."  This  act  set  forth 
that  a  certain  number  of  volumes  of  Hening's  "Statutes  at  Large"  should 
be  obtained  from  Mr.  Hening  at  a  certain  price,  and  that  these  should  be 
sold  and  the  proceeds  "appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  a  library,  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  Executive,  for  the  use  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  and 
General  Court,  and  of  the  General  Assembly  during  the  sessions  thereof." 
The  object  of  this  law  was  two-fold :  first,  to  secure  the  completion  of  the 
publication  of  the  "Statutes  at  Large,"  and,  secondly,  to  found  a  library. 
The  publication  of  the  statutes  went  forward  to  a  successful  conclusion,  but 
the  sale  of  the  copies  which  came  into  the  possession  of  the  State  lagged. 
It  was  found  a  difficult  matter  to  dispose  of  them.  A  law  was  accordingly 
passed  in  1826,  entitled  "An  Act  to  Provide  More  Effectually  for  the  Estab- 
lishment of  a  Public  Library,"  which  provided  that  the  Executive  (that  is, 
the  governor  and  his  Council)  should  appoint  an  agent  to  dispose  of  the 
copies  of  Hening's  "Statutes  at  Large,"  and  the  Supreme  Court  Reports,  to 
whom  there  should  be  allowed  such  a  commission  as  the  Executive  deemed 
necessary.  As  soon  as  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  should  be  turned  over  to 
the  treasury,  the  Executives  were  authorized  to  appoint  three  competent 
persons  to  make  selection  of  the  books  to  be  purchased.  Pursuant  to  pro- 
vision of  this  act,  agents  for  the  sale  of  the  books  wrere  appointed  and  a  com- 
mittee for  the  management  of  the  library  named.  In  1828  was  passed 
an  additional  act,  having  the  title  "An  Act  Concerning  the  Public  Library," 
which  authorized  the  Executive  to  select  in  the  capitol  a  suitable  room  for  the 
location  of  the  public  library. 

This  law  of  1828  named  the  clerk  of  the  Executive  Council  (that  is, 
the  Council  of  State)  as  the  public  librarian.  It  also  provided  that  the 
Council  should  draw  up  a  set  of  rules  for  the  government  of  the  library. 
The  rules  drawn  up  in  pursuance  of  this  consisted  of  seventeen,  and  are  of 
no  little  interest.  They  provided  for  the  opening  of  the  library  from  nine 


26  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 

until  three  every  day  that  the  General  Assembly  was  in  session,  Sundays 
excepted,  and  for  its  opening  three  days  in  the  week  when  the  General 
Assembly  was  not  in  session.  Article  5  of  the  rules  is  in  part  as  follows: 
"For  all  books  issued  to  any  person,  a  receipt  or  note  shall  be  given,  payable 
to  the  governor  and  his  successors  in  office,  of  double  the  value  thereof,  if  in 
one  volume  only,  but  if  it  be  one  of  a  set,  then  double  the  value  of  the  set 
to  which  it  may  belong,  as  nearly  as  the  librarian  can  ascertain  the  same, 
conditioned  to  return  the  book  undefaced,  within  the  term  above  mentioned, 
or  to  forfeit  the  amount  of  such  note,  which  shall  be  in  the  following 
form  .  .  .  [Here  follows  the  form  of  the  note.]  At  the  expiration 
of  which,  unless  application  has  been  made  by  another  person  for  the  same 
book,  and  the  librarian  requested  to  make  a  memorandum  thereof,  the  said 
librarian,  upon  the  book's  being  produced  to  him,  may  renew  the  issue  for 
the  same,  for  the  time,  and  upon  the  conditions  aforesaid:  Provided  that 
every  receipt  or  note  shall  contain  a  further  forfeiture  or  penalty  for  every 
day's  detention  of  a  book  beyond  the  specified  time — that  is  to  say:  for  a 
folio,  one  dollar  per  day ;  for  a  quarto,  fifty  cents  per  day ;  for  an  octavo  or 
duodecimo,  twenty-five  cents  per  day.  Which  forfeiture  or  penalty  may,  for 
good  cause,  be  remitted  by  the  Executive,  in  whole  or  in  part  as  the  case  may 
require."  When  it  is  remembered  that  it  was  contemplated  that  only  mem- 
bers of  the  State  government  were  to  use  the  library — for  the  library,  though 
called  the  "public  library,"  was  not  to  be  used  by  the  public,  but  merely  to  be 
supported  by  the  public — the  strictness  of  this  rule  will  be  more  fully  appre- 
ciated. There  are  no  data  to  show  with  what  success  the  rule  was  operated. 
It  continued  to  be  one  of  the  rules  of  the  institution,  certainly  as  late  as 
1856,  for  it  is  found  in  the  set  of  rules  printed  in  the  general  catalog  of  the 
library  issued  in  that  year. 

Rule  No.  17  provided  that  a  printed  catalog  of  the  books,  with  the 
rules  and  regulations  annexed,  was  to  be  furnished  to  each  person  entitled 
to  the  use  of  the  library.  In  accordance  with  this  rule,  the  librarian  some 
time  in  1828  prepared  and  published  a  catalog.  From  this  catalog,  which  is, 
however,  merely  a  list  of  the  books  in  the  various  sections  of  the  library,  it 
is  seen  that  there  were  in  the  library  at  that  time  1,313  books,  of  which 
392  were  law  books,  and  many  others  were  public  documents.  However, 
there  were  in  the  section  of  history  and  biography  274  volumes.  Two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-eight  books  were  classed  as  "miscellaneous,"  which  shows 
the  want  of  skill  of  the  classifier;  for  under  this  head  were  put  the  col- 
lected works  of  various  authors,  encyclopedias,  dictionaries,  books  in  moral 
philosophy,  and  even  works  which  should  have  been  placed  under  the  head 
of  history  and  biography,  already  provided  for. 

Another  catalog  (or  rather  list  of  books)  was  published  in  1831,  at 
which  time  there  were  5,548  books  in  the  library.  The  next  catalog, 
published  in  1849,  shows  11,294;  the  next,  published  in  1856,  shows 
17,480;  the  next,  published  in  1877,  shows  about  30,000. 

Even  after  the  passage  of  the  law  of  1826,  providing  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  an  agent  to  dispose  of  Hening's  "Statutes  at  Large,"  very  little 
money  came  into  the  treasury  for  some  time  to  the  credit  of  the  library 
fund,  and,  accordingly,  in  1829,  provision  was  made  by  law  for  the  loan 


Handbook.  27 


to  the  library  fund  from  the  literary  fund  of  $6,000  at  an  annual  interest 
of  six  per  cent,  and  the  next  year  provision  was  made  for  the  loan  of  $4,000 
at  the  same  rate  of  interest.  With  these  two  amounts  many  new  books 
were  purchased ;  and  this  gives  an  explanation  of  the  great  increase  in 
the  number  of  books  added  to  the  library  between  1828  and  1831,  an 
increase  of  over  three  hundred  per  cent.  Provision  was  made  in  both 
these  laws  for  the  gradual  repayment  to  the  literary  fund  of  the  amounts 
borrowed  when  the  sale  of  State  documents  (including  Hening's  "Statutes 
at  Large")  would  enable  payments  to  be  made. 

The  clerk  of  the  Executive  Council  was  succeeded  as  librarian  by  the 
secretary  of  the  commonwealth  and  this  official  continued  to  hold  the  office 
until  July  1,  1903,  when,  in  accordance  with  the- laws  passed  pursuant 
to  the  provision  of  the  present  constitution  on  the  subject  of  the  library, 
the  affairs  of  the  institution  were  given  into  the  keeping  of  the  present 
Library  Board.  Of  course,  for  many  years  the  secretary  of  the  common- 
wealth had  had  an  assistant  who  actually  discharged  the  duties  of  State 
Librarian. 

The  selection  of  the  books  was  by  the  law  of  1829  taken  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  committee  of  the  Executive  Council  and  placed  in  the  hands 
of  a  new  committee  constituted  by  this  act  itself,  namely,  the  Joint  Library 
Committee,  that  is,  a  committee  made  up  of  members  of  both  the  Senate 
and  the  House.  The  entire  control  of  the  library  was  given  specifically  to 
the  Joint  Library  Committee  by  the  act  of  1830,  where  it  remained  till, 
according  to  provision  of  the  present  constitution,  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  Library  Board.  A  committee  on  'the  library  is  still  named  by  each 
house  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  to  these  committees,  which  frequently 
meet  as  a  joint  committee,  are  referred  bills  and  resolutions  affecting  the 
library  in  any  way,  but  they  do  not  have  the  control  of  the  library  in  the 
old  sense. 

At  present  the  State  Library  is  controlled  by  a  board  of  five  members, 
serving  without  compensation,  who  are  named  by  the  State  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, one  member  being  appointed  each  year  to  serve  for  five  years.  The 
Library  Board  appoints  the  librarian  and  makes  the  rules  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  institution,  and,  with  the  secretary  of  the  commonwealth, 
fixes  the  prices  at  which  are  sold  the  Virginia  State  documents,  the  proceeds 
of  the  sale  of  \vhich  constituted  up  to  1920  the  library  fund,  out  of  which 
books  and  supplies  for  the  maintenance  of  the  library  were  paid  for.  By  the 
Appropriation  Act  of  1920,  however,  this  source  of  revenue  was  taken 
away  from  the  Library  in  accordance  with  the  operation  of  the  Budget 
Law.  Now  the  Library  is  taken  care  of  by  direct  appropriations  only. 

The  constitution  of  1902  provided  that  the  law  library  and  the  State 
miscellaneous  library  should  become  separate  institutions,  the  State  miscel- 
laneous library,  or  simply  the  "State  Library,"  as  it  is  usually  known,  to  be 
under  the  control  of  the  Library  Board,  as  explained  above,  and  the  law 
library  to  be  under  the  control  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Appeals.  The 
two  institutions  are  now,  accordingly,  entirely  distinct,  each  having  its 
librarian  and  force  of  assistants.  They  are,  however,  in  the  same  build- 


28  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 

ing.  This  building  was  put  up  in  1892,  an  annex  being  added  in  1908 
and  another  in  1920.  This  proximity  of  the  two  libraries  to  each  other  is 
very  advantageous  to  both,  since  the  users  of  either  have  quick  access  to 
the  other  whenever  they  may  find  it  convenient. 

The  only  connection  in  law  now  between  the  two  is  the  provision  that 
such  law  books  (that  is,  court  reports,  session  laws,  codes,  revised  statutes, 
etc.)  as  come  to  the  Virginia  State  Library  from  other  States  in  exchange 
for  Virginia  State  documents  sent  to  all  the  States  and  territories  of  the 
Union,  under  the  system  of  interstate  exchange  which  has  been  in  opera- 
tion for  many  years,  shall  be  sent  immediately  to  the  law  library.  This  is 
exactly  as  it  should  be,  since,  as  its  title  indicates,  the  law  library  is  a 
special  library  for  the.  use,  primarily,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Appeals. 
It  may  be  used,  however,  by  any  lawyer  in  the  State,  and,  in  fact,  by  any 
person  whatever  who  conducts  himself  in  an  orderly  manner. 

The  executive  head  of  the  Virginia  State  Librarv,  under  the  Library 
Board,  holding  office  "at  the  pleasure  of  the  Board" — that  is,  in  effect, 
during  good  behavior — is  the  State  Librarian,  who  has  control  of  the  work 
of  the  institution.  The  Library  Board  being  a  permanent  body  not  sub- 
ject to  political  influence,  has  given  a  steady  and  helpful  supervision;  there 
has  been  an  undisturbed  and  increased  length  of  service  for  library  officials, 
resulting  in  a  continuity  of  administration  which  has  favorably  affected 
the  work  of  the  Library. 

From  the  time  that  the  Library  Board  assumed  charge,  on  July  1, 
1903,  it  has  been  the  policy  of  the  Board  to  make  the  Library  as  widely 
useful  as  possible  to  the  people  of  the  whole  State.  Accordingly,  the  Board 
has  made  provision  for  the  proper  cataloging  of  the  contents  of  the  Library, 
and  has,  from  time  to  time,  by  virtue  of  the  power  conferred  upon  it  by 
law,  extended  the  privilege  of  borrowing  books  for  home  use.  On  No- 
vember 21,  1913,  the  Board  granted  the  privilege  of  borrowing  to  every 
responsible  person  in  the  State  over  eighteen  years  of  age.  Before  this  the 
privilege  of  borrowing  had  been  conferred  on  all  ministers  and  teachers 
throughout  the  State. 

The  cataloging  of  the  Library,  using  the  classification  system  of  the 
Library  of  Congress  and,  when  possible,  its  printed  cards,  was  seriously 
begun  in  1906.  The  cataloging  is  now  practically  up-to-date,  with  the 
exception  of  certain  classes  in  religion  and  literature,  which  await  the 
completion  of  these  particular  classification  schedules  of  the  Library  of 
Congress. 

With  the  participation  of  the  United  States  in  the  European  War, 
the  State  Library  organized  itself  to  render  what  aid  it  could  to  the  State 
and  nation.  The  State  Librarian  in  his  capacity  of  Virginia  director  of  the 
American  Library  Association  War  Service,  managed  the  campaigns  for 
the  collection  of  many  thousands  of  books  in  the  State  and  their  distribu- 
tion to  the  local  stations  of  the  Library  War  Service  (including  Camp 
Lee)  or  to  Newport  News  for  shipment  to  France.  He  also  directed  the 
very  successful  campaign  carried  on  in  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1917  to  secure 
money  for  the  A.  L.  A.  The  Library  also  distributed  government  liter- 


Handbook.  29 


ature  relating  to  the  war  and  seived  as  a  publicity  headquarters  in  dis- 
seminating the  instruction  of  government  agencies  devoted  to  the  winning 
of  the  war. 

After  the  war,  the  State  Library  distributed  throughout  the  State 
Virginia's  share — 5,576  volumes —  of  the  surplus  books  left  in  the  possession 
of  the  American  Library  Association  after  all  the  books  desired  had  been 
given  to  the  United  States  government  for  the  use  of  the  army,  the  navy 
and  the  marine  corps. 

Considerable  work  was  also  done  for  the  Virginia  War  History  Com- 
mission, under  the  supervision  of  the  State  Librarian,  a  member  of  that 
Commission.  An  extensive  collection  of  newspaper  clippings  relating  to 
Virginia  and  Virginians  in  the  European  War  was  assembled,  organized, 
grouped  by  subject  and  placed  in  scrap  books.  Material  collected  by  the 
War  History  Commission  will  eventually  be  deposited  in  the  State  Library. 

The  1920  session  of  the  General  Assembly  passed  an  act  for  the  ad- 
dition of  an  archival  annex  to  the  Library  building.  The  most  expert 
advice  and  service  in  the  design  of  archival  buildings  were  promptly  se- 
cured and  a  model,  fire-proof  structure  was  erected  without  delay.  The 
manuscript  archives  were  transferred  to  this  annex  in  February  and 
March,  1921. 

The  transfer  of  this  material  hardly  relieved  appreciably  the  great 
congestion  in  the  Library.  As  far  back  as  1910  the  report  of  the  Library 
Board  called  attention  to  the  imminent  need  of  a  new  building.  During 
the  succeeding  years  the  collections  of  books,  periodicals,  manuscripts,  maps 
and  newspapers  have  overflowed  the  shelf  space  and  have  had  to  be  piled 
on  the  floor  in  various  parts  of  the  building  and  on  top  of  the  stacks.26 
Because  of  the  lack  of  shelf  space  the  reading  room  can  accommodate  only 
a  small  collection  of  reference  books.  The  constant  shifting  of  books,  made 
necessary  by  the  crowding,  is  extravagant  of  time  and  labor.  Opportunity 
to  display  properly  the  resources  of  the  Library  is  a  natural  means  of  pro- 
moting its  use  and  encouraging  its  support.  Various  associations  have 
signified  their  willingness  to  transfer  their  collections  to  the  State  Library, 
if  facilities  for  their  accommodation  could  be  provided.  If  space  were 
available,  the  books  of  many  organizations  would  be  deposited  or  donated, 
to  the  great  advantage  of  all. 

The  greatest  need  of  the  institution  at  present  is  a  new  building. 
Given  the  building,  sufficient  appropriations  and  an  adequate  staff,  Virginia 
might  in  a  few  years  have  a  library  befitting  her  present  importance  and 
her  historic  primacy.  The  building  should  be  ample  for  all  possible  uses  of 
the  present  and  for  the  growth  of  many  years.  It  should  be  absolutely 
fire-proof,  not  only  in  itself,  but  also  in  all  its  furnishings.  It  should  be 
the  creation  of  the  most  skilled  architect  in  the  land,  a  building  at  the 
same  time  outwardly  imposing  and,  within,  perfectly  adapted  to  its  intended 

It  has  been  necessary  to  discard  some  material.  The  voluminous  set  of 
Specifications  and  drawings  of  patents  deposited  by  the  United  States  government 
had  to  be  transferred  to  a  storage  room  in  the  Davis  building  and  locked  up. 
Later,  when  this  building  was  given  up  by  the  State,  these  books  had  to  be  sent 
back  to  Washington. 


30  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 

uses,  a  building  in  which  every  Virginian,   however  critical,  might  take 
a  just  pride. 

Happily  this  great  need  is  about  to  be  satisfied.  A  momentous  act  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  1920  provided  for  a  library  building  as  a  memorial 
to  Virginians  who  served  in  the  World  War.  The  American  Legion  in 
Virginia,  with  altruistic  patriotism,  asked  this  alone  in  recognition  of  the 
State's  debt  of  gratitude.  Preliminary  conditions  have  been  fulfilled,  and 
plans  for  a  $2,000,000  building  are  being  perfected. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

The  State  Library  is  a  publication  agency  of  no  small  importance.  It 
issues  an  annual  report,  a  quarterly  bulletin,  and  special  publications.  The 
most  notable  of  its  publications  is  the  Journals  of  the  House  of  Burgesses, 
of  which  very  few  copies  of  originals  are  in  existence.  From  the  British 
Record  Office,  the  Library  of  Congress,  the  Virginia  State  Library  and 
the  collections  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Mrs.  C.  W.  Coleman,  formerly  of 
Williamsburg,  Va.,  it  was  possible  to  publish  a  complete  set  of  these 
journals.  Their  value  to  students  of  Virginia  history  and  to  genealogists 
can  hardly  be  over-estimated. 

Another  notable  publication  is  the  Legislative  journals  of  the  Council 
of  colonial  Virginia,  the  Council  having  been  the  upper  house  of  the  colonial 
legislature. 

It  is  the  policy  of  the  Library  Board  to  have  published,  as  rapidly 
as  means  permit,  the  valuable  manuscript  material  of  the  Library  which 
has  not  been  printed.  The  Board  is  also  permitted  by  law  to  print  annually, 
as  a  part  of  its  report,  as  much  as  550  pages  of  historically  valuable  material. 

The  bulletins  of  the  Library  contain,  in  the  main,  finding  lists  of 
material  in  the  various  collections.  Most  notable  of  the  bulletins  are  those 
which  constitute  a  bibliography  of  Virginia. 

A  list  of  the  publications  may  be  found  on  the  covers  of  each  bulletin. 

RULES. 

1.  The  rules. — The  Library  is  free  to  all  persons  conforming  to  the 
rules.     As  these  are  publicly  posted  in  the  Library  and  are  printed  for  free 
distribution,   any   violation   committed   in   ignorance   thereof    will   not   be 
excused.     For  wilful  violation  of  any  rule,  the  offender  may  be  excluded 
from  all  further  use  of  the  Library. 

2.  Suspension   of  rules. — No  Library  rule  may  be  suspended  except 
by  official  action.    Any  request  for  such  action  should  be  made  to  the  State 
Librarian. 

3.  Hours  of  opening. — The  Library  is  open  for  readers  and  borrow- 
ers from  9  A.  M.  to  7  P.  M.,  except  during  June,  July,  August  and  Sep- 
tember when  it  closes  at  5  P.  M.  and  at  12  M.  on  Saturdays.    The  Library 
is  closed  on  Sundays  and  legal  holidays. 

4.  Decorum. — Quiet  and  order  must  be  observed  in  the  reading  room. 
No  loud  or  unnecessary  talking  is  permitted.     Begging  and  soliciting  are 
prohibited. 


Handbook.  31 


5.  Access   to   shelves. — No   one   but   employees   of   the    Library   may 
have  access  to  its  private  rooms  or  shelves,  unless  accompanied  by  an  at- 
tendant or  having  an  official  permit. 

6.  Reproductions. — No    reproductions    by    photography    or    otherwise 
are  permitted  without  the  approval  of  the  State  Librarian. 

7.  Injuries   or   losses   of  books. — Notes,    corrections   of    the   text   or 
marks  of  any  kind  on  books  belonging  to  the  Library  are  forbidden.     Any 
person  violating  this  rule  or  otherwise  injuring  or  losing  the  property  of 
the  Library  must  make  good  the  injury  or  loss  or  reimburse  the  Library 
for  all  costs  of  replacing  such  property.     The  borrower  is  responsible  for 
all  losses  or  injuries  beyond  reasonable  wear  which  occur  to  a  book  while 
it  is  lent  to  him,  either  for  reference  or  home  use.     Books  are  assumed 
to  be  in  proper  condition  when  issued  and  if  any  mutilation  or  defacing  is 
found,  the  fact  should  be  reported  without  delay.     If  one  or  more  volumes 
of  a  set  are  lost  or  damaged,  the  borrower  is  held  responsible  for  the  set 
unless  the  lost  or  damaged  volumes  can  be  replaced.     Until  all  assessments 
for  damage  or  loss  are  paid,  the  borrower  may  not  take  any  further  material 
from  the  Library. 

8.  Lost  books. — Individuals  and  dealers  are  warned  not  to  buy  books 
offered  for  sale  bearing  the  Library's  mark.     Such  books  are  the  property 
of  the  Library  and  should  be  held  and  the  Library  notified. 

9.  Borrowers. — The  privilege  of  borrowing  is  granted  to  all  persons 
connected  with  the  State  government,  to  all  libraries,  institutions  and  in- 
dividuals in  the  State  as  may  be  registered  with  the  Library,  and  to  all 
responsible  persons  in  the  State  when  sufficiently  certified. 

10.  Preference. — State  officers  shall  be  given  preference  in  the  use  of 
any  and  all  books  in  the  Library  when  needed  for  official  use. 

11.  Borrowing    through    libraries,    schools    and    other    institutions. — 
Individuals  wishing  to  borrow  books  from  the  State  Library  should  apply 
through  the  nearest  public  or  school  library  or  other  institution  registered 
with  the  State  Library.     All  applications  for  books  must  be  made  through 
the  librarian  of  a  local  library,  the  principal  of  a  school,  or  the  proper 
official  of  other  institutions.     The  books  are  charged   to   the   borrowing 
library  which  becomes  responsible  to  the  State  Library  for  them.     When, 
however,  they  reach  the  borrowing  library,  they  may  be  lent  under  the 
local  rules. 

12.  Individual  borrowers. — Where  feasible,  individuals  should  borrow 
through  local   libraries,   etc.,   under  the  inter-library  loan  system,   as  ex- 
plained in  rule   11.     Owing,  however,  to  the  fewness  of  libraries  in  the 
State,  individuals  are  generally  registered  as  borrowers.     All  persons  con- 
nected with  the  State  government,  all  ministers  and  teachers,  when  suffi- 
ciently identified,  may  borrow  books  on  their  own  responsibility.     In  addi- 
tion every  responsible  person  in  the  State,  over  eighteen  years  of  age,  whose 
responsibility  may  be  certified  by  any  member  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  any  State  official,  any  judge,  the  mayor  of  any  city  or  town, 
or  any  division  superintendent  of  schools,  will  be  registered  personally  as 
a  borrower.     Pupils  at  schools  and  colleges  and   persons  under  eighteen 
years  of  age  are  not  allowed  to  borrow  books  but  may  get  their  teachers  or 


32  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia,  State  Library. 

parents  to  borrow  for  them,  or  obtain  books  under  the  inter-library  loan 
system. 

The  certification  of  responsibility  does  not  carry  with  it  any  obliga- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  certifier  to  make  good  possible  losses;  it  is  simply  a 
statement  that  the  certifier  believes  the  applicant  a  proper  person  to  whom 
the  privileges  of  the  Library  may  be  granted.  There  should  be,  therefore, 
no  embarrassment  on  the  part  of  any  responsible  person  in  asking  for  the 
certificate.  If  the  applicant  has  no  personal  acquaintance  with  any  one 
authorized  to  write  the  certificate,  he  can  easily  get  some  friend  to  intro- 
duce him.  The  applicant  is  required,  in  addition,  to  sign  a  promise  to 
obey  the  rules  of  the  Library.  On  request,  printed  cards,  bearing  the 
customary  forms  of  these  statements,  will  be  furnished  for  signatures. 

13.  Cash  deposit  borrowers. — A  temporary  resident,  or  other  person, 
may  become  a  borrower  by  making  a  cash  deposit — ordinarily  $2.     The 
money  will  be  refunded  when  this  borrowing  privilege  is  no  longer  needed, 
but  not  until  all  books  have  been  returned  and  all  fines  and  damages  which 
may  be  assessed  have  been  paid. 

14.  Restricted  books. — As  the  State  Library  is  primarily  a  reference 
library,  only  such  books  are  allowed  to  circulate  as  will  not  seriously  hamper 
the  reference  work  of  the  Library.     It  has  been  found  by  experience  that 
it  is  necessary,  if  the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number  is  to  be  attained, 
that  certain  books  be  kept  at  all  times  in  the  Library.     These  embrace 
reference  works  like  encyclopedias  and  dictionaries,  newspapers,  books  on 
genealogy  and  books  on  Virginia  history.     If,  however,  there  be  duplicates 
in  some  cases — and  it  is  the  policy  of  the  Library  Board  to  obtain  duli- 
cates  of  all  Virginia  books — these  may  be  lent,  unless  of  very  considerable 
value,  and  almost  impossible,  if  lost,  to  be  replaced. 

15.  Paintings  and  statuary. — This  material  may,  not  be  lent  or  taken 
from  the  building. 

16.  Book  privileges. — Ordinarily  three  books  may  be  taken  on  bor- 
rower's card,  if  desired;  for  particular  purposes,  however,  any  reasonable 
number  of  volumes  may  be  drawn,   not  to  interfere  with   the  needs  of 
other  readers. 

17.  Reserves. — On  leaving  title  of   book  and  name   and   address  at 
the  loan  desk,  a  borrower  may  have  books  reserved.     Notice  will  be  given 
the  borrower  when  the  book  is  available  and  it  will  ordinarily  be  held 
for  him  two  days. 

18.  Loans. — Books  will  be  delivered  only  on  personal  application  or 
on  a  written  order.     No  borrower  may  transfer  his  privilege  or  the  books 
borrowed ;  but  requests  made  in  favor  of  others  by  persons  entitled  to  draw 
books  will  be  honored,  the  borrower  being  responsibl"  ior  the  books  drawn. 

19.  Charging  books. — Books  issued  on  call  slips  are  for  use  in  the 
reading  room  only.     All  books  taken  from  the  Library  must  be  charged 
at  the  loan  desk. 

20.  Period  of  loan. — Except  on  traveling  libraries  and  books  in  em- 
bossed type  for  the  blind  the  ordinary  period  of  loan  is  two  weeks.     Bor- 
rowers living  away  from  Richmond  may  be  allowed  four  days  of  grace — 


Handbook.  33 


two  days  for  the  trip  of  the  book  from  the  Library  to  the  borrower,  and  two 
for  the  return  trip.  Books  in  great  demand  at  the  State  Library  are  lent 
for  such  shorter  periods  as  the  Library  may  fix. 

21.  Renewal. — If,  toward  the  close  of  the  loan-period  of  two  weeks, 
request  be  made  by  the  borrower  that  the  time  be  extended,  one  renewal 
of  two  weeks  may  be  allowed  if  no  one  else  has  applied  for  the  books  in 
the  meanwhile.     If  such  application  has  been  made,   however,  the  books 
must  be  returned  at  the  end  of  the  first  two  weeks.     Renewals  will  be 
received  by  telephone,  mail  or  on   application  in  person  at  the   Library. 
If  renewed  by  telephone  or  mail,  the  borrower  must  state  his  name  and  the 
author  and  the  title  of  the  book.     The  Library  is  not  responsible  for  the 
non-delivery  of  renewal  requests  by  mail. 

22.  Recall. — All  books  are  subject  to  recall  at  any  time,  and  when 
recalled  must  be  returned  immediately. 

23.  Books  not  returned. — Any  book  not  returned  after  one  month's 
notice  may  be  considered  lost,  in  which  case  the  borrower  must  pay  its 
full  value. 

24.  Notice  to  borrowers. — The  Library  does  not  notify  borrowers  of 
date  when  books  are  due.    Borrowers  should  keep  account  of  the  loan  period. 
Overdue  books  will  be  recalled  but  prompt  notice  can  not  be  guaranteed. 

25.  Fines. — A  fine  of  two  cents  will  be  charged  for  each  day  a  book 
is  kept  over  time — that  is,  more  than  two  weeks  if  the  book  is  not  re- 
newed, and  more  than  four  weeks  if  renewed.     Until  all  fines  are  paid, 
the  borrower  may  not  take  any  further  material  from  the  Library. 

26.  Books  far  the  blind. — Books  in  embossed  type  for  the  blind  are 
lent  free  of  cost  to  any  blind  person.     Such  books  are  carried  free  by  mail 
anywhere  in  the  United  States  and  may  be  returned  free  by  using  the  printed 
label  enclosed  with  each  book.     The  period  of  loan  is  not  restricted ;  books 
may  be  kept  any  reasonable  length  of  time.  Lists  of  books  in  the  Library  for 
the  blind  will  be  mailed  upon  request. 

For  a  full  description  of  this  service,  see  p.  15. 

27.  Traveling  libraries. — On  application  of  five  taxpayers,  a  traveling 
library  of  from  25  to  50  volumes  for  the  use  of  the  community  will  be  sent. 

For  a  full  description  of  this  service,  see  pp.  16-19. 

28.  Transportation. — Borrowers  shall  be  required  to  pay  cost  of  car- 
riage of  books  each  way,  take  all  precautions  in  packing  necessary  to  guard 
against  possible  injury  in  shipment  and  reimburse  the  Library  for  any  Joss 
or  damage  in  transportation.     Traveling  libraries  are  sent  by  freight  unless 
shipment  by  express  is  requested.    When  books  are  sent  by  express  or  freight, 
they  are  sent  charges  collect;  when  returned  by  express  or  freight,  they 
must  be  returned  with  the  charges  prepaid.     A  small  number  of  books  is 
ordinarily  sent  by  parcels  post  at  little  cost — usually  not  more  than  ten 
cents  for  several  books.     Borrowers  are  required,  accordingly,  to  send  as 
much  as  ten  cents  with  each  request  for  books.     If  the  postage  required 
is  less  than  ten  cents,  the  difference  is  refunded;  if  more,  the  borrower  is 
expected  to  send  the  additional  amount  wh'en  he  returns  the  book. 


34  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia  State  Library. 


LAWS. 

Protection  of  the  books  and  other  property  in  the  State  Library,  and 
to  punish  any  person  who  shall  wilfully  remove  the  same  therefrom  or  who 
shall  fail  to  return  the  same  after  receiving  notice  from  the  Librarian. — 
Any  person  who  wilfully,  maliciously  or  wantonly  writes  upon,  injures, 
defaces,  tears,  cuts,  or  destroys  any  book,  plate,  picture,  engraving,  map, 
newspaper,  magazine,  pamphlet,  manuscript,  or  other  property  belonging 
to  the  State  Library  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  five  dollars 
nor  more  than  five  hundred  dollars,  one-half  of  which  shall  go  to  the  in- 
former upon  conviction  of  the  offender,  or  by  imprisonment  in  jail  for  a 
period  not  exceeding  six  months.  Any  person  who  wilfully  and  without 
authority  removes  any  book  or  other  property  from  the  State  Library  shall 
be  deemed  guilty  of  misdemeanor.  Any  person  having  in  his  possession  any 
book  or  other  property  of  the  State  Library,  which  he  shall  fail  to  return 
within  two  weeks  after  receiving  notice  in  writing  from  the  librarian, 
shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  twenty-five  dollars;  but  if  such 
book  should  be  lost  or  destroyed,  such  person  may,  within  thirty  days  after 
being  so  notified  to  return  such  books,  pay  to  the  State  Librarian  the  value 
of  such  book,  the  value  to  be  determined  by  the  Library  Board.  (Code  of 
Virginia,  1919,  sec.  367.) 

An  act  to  alloiu  public  officials  in  Virginia,  both  State  and  local,  to  de- 
posit records  in  the  Virginia  State  Library.  Approved  March  15,  1918. 

1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  general  assembly  of  Virginia,  That  any  State, 
county,  city,  town,  village,  or  other  public  official  in  the  State  of  Virginia, 
or  any  public  board  or  commission,  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered, 
in  his  or  its  discretion,  to  transfer  to  the  Virginia  State  Library,  for  preser- 
vation, any  official  books,  records,  documents,  original  papers,  maps,  news- 
paper files,  printed  books,  or  portraits,  not  in  current  use  in  his  or  its  office ; 
and  said  State  Library  shall  provide  for  their  permanent  preservation ;  and 
when  so  surrendered,  copies  therefrom  shall  be  made  and  certified  by  the 
State  librarian,  upon  application  and  the  payment  of  reasonable  fees,  which 
certification  shall  have  the  same  force  and  effect  as  if  made  by  the  officer 
or  board  or  commission  originally  in  charge  of  them.  Such  fees  as  may 
be  collected  shall  be  deposited  in  the  treasury  of  the  State  to  the  credit 
of  the  library  fund.  (Acts,  General  Assembly,  1918,  chap.  231.) 

Cities  and  towns  to  furnish  copies  of  official  publications  to  the 
library. — The  mayor  of  each  city  and  town  in  the  commonwealth  shall  send 
regularly  at  the  time  of  publication  to  the  Virginia  State  Library  two  copies 
of  each  of  the  official  publications  of  such  city  or  town,  and  also  two  copies 
of  each  publication  of  former  years  of  which  the  supply  has  not  been  ex- 
hausted. Official  publications  for  the  purpose  of  this  section  shall  em- 
brace printed  reports,  in  pamphlet  or  book  form,  of  the  officials  of  the 
city  or  town,  printed  volumes  of  ordinances  and  such  other  special  publi- 
cations as  the  city  or  town  may  authorize  to  be  printed.  (Code  of  Vir- 
ginia, 1919,  sec.  353.) 

Institutions  of  learning  and  eleemosynary  institutions  to  furnish  to  the 
State  Library  copies  of  publications. — Every  institution  of  learning  re- 


0  Handbook.  35 


ceiving  appropriations  from  the  State,  and  every  State  eleemosynary  insti^- 
tution  shall,  and  every  other  institution  of  learning  and  eleemosynary  in- 
stitution in  this  State  may,  send  to  the  State  Library  two  copies  of  each  of 
the  books,  pamphlets,  catalogues,  bulletins,  or  circulars  published  by  such 
institution.  One  set  of  the  publications  received  under  this  and  the  pre- 
ceding section  shall  be  retained  as  a  permanent  deposit  in  the  State  Library, 
and  shall  not  be  used  for  circulation  outside  of  the  library  building.  (Code 
_of  Virginia,  1919,  sec.  354.) 

Punishment  for  violation  of  the  two  preceding  sections. — Any  person 
or  the  official  of  an  institution,  whose  duty  it  is  to  comply,  violating  the 
mandatory  provisions  of  either  of  the  two  preceding  sections  shall  be  liable 
to  a  fine  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars,  to  be  recovered  before  the 
police  justice  of  the  city  of  Richmond.  (Code  of  Virginia,  1919,  sec.  355.) 

To  authorize  cities  and  towns  to  establish  and  maintain  free  public 
libraries  and  reading  rooms. — The  council  of  any  city  or  town,  under  regu- 
lations to  be  prescribed  by  such  council,  shall  have  power  to  establish  and 
maintain  a  public  library  and  reading  room  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
inhabitants  of  such  city  or  town,  and  may  levy  a  tax  not  to  exceed  one  mill 
on  the  dollar  annually  on  all  taxable  property  in  the  city  or  town,  such 
tax  to  be  levied  and  collected  in  like  manner  with  other  general  taxes  of 
such  city  or  town,  and  to  be  known  as  the  library  fund  of  such  city  or 
town.27  (Code  of  Virginia,  1919,  sec.  3074.) 

Libraries  in  public  schools. — Whenever  the  patrons  and  friends  of  any 
public  free  school  shall  raise  by  private  subscription  and  tender  to  the 
clerk  of  the  district  or  city  school  board,  for  the  establishment  of  a  library 
to  be  connected  with  the  said  school,  the  sum  of  fifteen  dollars,  the  school 
board  shall  appropriate  the  sum  of  fifteen  dollars  for  this  purpose,  and 
shall  appoint  one  intelligent  person  in  the  school  district,  or  city,  the  manager 
of  said  library.  The  district  board  shall  also  appoint  one  competent  person 
well  versed  in  books  to  select  books  for  the  libraries  that  may  be  established 
under  the  provisions  of  this  section  from  lists  of  books  approved  by  the 
State  Board  of  Education  and  at  such  prices  and  under  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  may  be  prescribed  by  said  board  of  education ;  but  no  school 
board  shall  be  obliged  to  appropriate  money  for  more  than  five  libraries 
as  aforesaid  in  any  one  year.  (Code  of  Virginia,  1919,  sec.  754.) 

Conditions  under  which  State  Board  of  Education  may  supplement 
funds  for  books;  who  shall  order  same. — As  soon  as  any  school  board  shall 
have  made  an  appropriation  for  a  library  in  the  manner  prescribed  and  the 
person  appointed  to  select  the  books  shall  have  submitted  the  list  of  books 
to  be  purchased  and  the  prices  of  the  same  to  the  clerk  of  the  school  board, 
the  clerk  of  said  school  board  shall  forward  an  order  for  the  said  list  of 

"Public  library  buildings,  their  equipment  and  the  land  they  occupy  are   ex- 
empt from  taxation.     (See  Code  of  Virginia,  1919,  Sec.  2272  (d),  2301   (c)  ). 


36  Bulletin  of  the  Virginia,  State  Library. 

books,  with  a  warrant  for  not  less  than  forty  dollars  made  payable  to  the 
contractor  or  dealer  with  whom  the  State  Board  of  Education  shall  have 
made  arrangements  to  furnish  the  books  under  the  provisions  of  the  pre- 
ceding section,  to  the  division  superintendent  of  schools;  whereupon  the 
division  superintendent  of  schools  shall  forward  the  order  for  said  list  of 
books,  or  a  copy  thereof,  an  application  for  State  aid  and  the  warrant  afore- 
said to  the  department  of  public  instruction.  Upon  the  receipt  of  said  order 
and  warrant  the  State  Board  of  Education  shall  remit  to  the  treasurer 
of  the  county  or  city  in  which  such  school  is  situated  the  sum  of  ten  dollars, 
the  State's  contribution  for  the  purchase  of  books,  as  aforesaid,  and  the 
department  of  public  instruction  shall  forward  the  order  and  the  warrant 
to  the  said  dealer  or  contractor  under  rules  and  regulations  to  be  formu- 
lated by  the  State  Board  of  Education.  The  treasurer  shall  have  no  com- 
mission for  receiving  and  disbursing  the  funds  provided  for  in  this  and  the 
preceding  section.  The  State  Board  of  Education  shall  fix  rules  and  regu- 
lations looking  to  as  wide  a  distribution  of  the  funds  as  may  seem  practicable. 
The  district  school  board  shall  furnish  a  neat  bookcase  with  lock  and  key 
for  each  library  upon  application  of  the  manager  thereof.  (Code  of  Vir- 
ginia, 1919,  sec.  755.) 

Local  manager  to  carry  out  rules  and  regulations  for  use  and  preserva- 
tion of  books. — The  local  manager  of  every  library  shall  carry  out  such 
rules  and  regulations  for  the  proper  use  and  -preservation  of  books  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  the  State  Board  of  Education.  The  local  managers  of 
two  or  more  libraries  may  be  permitted  to  exchange  libraries  under  rules 
and  regulations  to  be  prescribed  by  the  State  Board  of  Education.  (Code 
of  Virginia,  1919,  sec.  756.) 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  VIRGINIA  STATE  LIBRARY. 
(Continued  from  p.  2  of  Cover.) 

*BulIetin,  v.  1,  no.  1,  Jan.,  1908.     Provisional  list  of  works  on  genealogy.     33   p. 

*Bulletin,  v.  1,  mo.  2,  April,  1908.  Finding  list  of  biography.  By  E.  G.  Swem. 
p.  35-134. 

*BuIIetin,  v.  1,  no.  3,  July,  1908.  Finding  list  of  American  history.  By  E.  G. 
Swem.  p.  135-292. 

Bulletin,  v.  1,  no.  4,  Oct.,  1908.  List  of  Shakespeareana.  By  E.  G.  Swem. 
p.  293-308. 

*Bulletin,  v.  2,  nos.  1-2,  Jan.-April,  1909.  Finding  list  of  history.  By  E  G 
Swem.  190  p. 

Bulletin,  v.  2,  no.  3,  July,  1909.  Finding  list  of  geography.  By  E  G  Swem 
p.  191-228. 

*Bulletin,  v.  2,  no.  4,  Oct.,  1909.  Finding  list  of  fiction.  By  E.  G.  Swem.  p 
229-275. 

Bulletin,  v.  3,  nos.  1-3,  Jan. -July,  1910.  Finding  list  of  social  sciences.  By  E 
G.  Swem.  352  p. 

Bulletin,  v.  3,  no.  4,  Oct.,  1910.  Bibliography  of  conventions  and  constitutions 
of  Virginia.  By  E.  G.  Swem.  p.  353-411. 

Bulletin,  v.  4,  no.  1,  Jan.,  1911.  List  of  publications  of  the  Confederate  States 
government  in  Virginia  State  Library  and  library  of  Confederate  Museum. 
Comp.  under  direction  of  E.  G.  Swem.  72  p. 

Bulletin,  v.  4,  nos.  2-4,  April-Oct.,  1911.  Finding  list  of  science,  medicine,  agricul- 
ture, technology,  military  and  naval  science.  By  E.  G.  Swem.  p.  73-501. 

*Bulletin,  v.  5,  no.  1,  Jan.,  1912.  A  complete  index  to  Stith's  History  of  Virginia. 
By  M.  P.  Robinson.  152  p. 

Bulletin,  v.  5,  no.  2,  April,  1912.  Finding  list  of  books  relating  to  printing,  book 
industries,  libraries  and  bibliography.  By  E.  G.  Swem.  p.  153-234. 

Bulletin,  v.  5,  no.  3,  July,  1912.  Finding  list  of  music,  fine  arts  and  photography 
By  E.  G.  Swem.  p.  235-280. 

*BulIetin,  v.  5,  no.  4,  Oct.,  1912.  A  list  of  newspapers  in  the  Virginia  State 
Library,  Confederate  Museum  and  Valentine  Museum.  Comp.  by  Mrs.  K. 
P.  Minor  and  Miss  Susie  B.  Harrison,  under  the  direction  of  E.  G  Swem 
p.  281-425. 

Bulletin,  v.  6,  no.  1,  Jan.,  1913.  A  list  of  manuscripts  relating  to  the  history 
of  agriculture  in  Virginia,  collected  by  N.  F.  Cabell,  and  now  in  the  Virginia 
State  Library.  Comp.  by  E.  G.  Swem.  20  p. 

*Bulletin,  v.  6,  no.  2,  April  1913.  A  list  of  the  portraits  and  pieces  of  statuary 
in  the  Virginia  State  Library,  with  biographical  notes.  By  E.  G.  Swem. 
p.  21-44. 

*Bulletin,  v.  6,  nos.  3-4,  July-Oct.,  1913.  An  author  and  subject  index  to  the 
Southern  Historical  Society  Papers,  v.  1-38.  By  Mrs.  K.  P.  Minor,  under 
the  direction  of  E.  G.  Swem.  p.  45-139. 

Bulletin,  v.  7,  no.  1,  Jan.,  1914.  A  list  of  manuscripts  recently  deposited  in  the 
Virginia  State  Library  by  the  State  Auditor.  By  E.  G.  Swem.  32  p. 

Bulletin,  v.  7,  nos.  2-3,  April-July,  1914.  The  maps  relating  to  Virginia  in  the 
Virginia  State  Library,  and  in  other  Virginia  State  Departments,  with  the 
17th  and  18th  century  atlas  maps  in  the  Library  of  Congress.  By  E.  G. 
Swem.  p.  33-264. 

Bulletin,  v.  7,  no.  4,  Oct.,  1914.  A  finding  list  of  books  in  the  classes  of  language 
and  literature  in  the  Virginia  State  Library.  By  E.  G.  Swem.  p.  265-326. 

(Continued  on  p.  4  of  Cover.) 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  VIRGINIA  >TATE  LIBRARY. 
(Concluded.) 

*Bulletin,  v.  8,  no.  1,  Jan.,  1915.     A  list  of  some  books  on  debating  in  the  Virginia 

State  Library.     By  E.  G.  Swem.     30  p. 
Bulletin,   v.   8,   nos.   2-4,   April-Oct.,    1915-.      A   bibliography   of   Virginia.    Part    1. 

By  E.  G.  Swem.    p.  31-767.    $1.00. 
Bulletin,  v.   9,   nos.   1-3,  Jan. -July,   1916.     Virginia   counties,  those    resulting  from 

Virginia  legislation.     By  M.  P.  Robinson.     284  p.     $1.00. 
Bulletin,  v.  9,  no.  4,   Oct.,   1916.     French  newspapers   of   1848-50  in  the   Virginia 

State  Library.    By  E.  G.  Swem.    p.  285-347. 
Bulletin,  v.    10,  nos.   1-4,  Jan.-Oct.,    1917.     A   bibliography   of   Virginia.     Part   2. 

By  E.  G.  Swem.    1404  p.    $2.50. 
Bulletin,   v.    11,   nos.    1-2,   Jan.-April,    1918.      A    contribution   to   the    bibliography 

of  agriculture  in   Virginia.     Ed.  by  E.  G.  Swem,  from  the  notes  of  N.  F. 

Cabell.     36  p. 
Bulletin,  v.  11,  nos.  3-4,  July-Oct,  1918.     An  analysis  of  Ruffin's  Farmer's  Register, 

with  a  bibliography  of  Edmund  Ruffin.    By  E.  G.  Swem.     p.  37-144. 
Bulletin,   v.   12,   nos.    1-2,   Jan.-April,    1919.     A   bibliography   of    Virginia.     Part 

3.    The  Acts  and  the  Journals  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony,  1619- 

1776.    By  E.  G.  Swem.    72  p.    $  .50. 
Bulletin,    v.    12,    nos.    3-4,    July-Oct.,    1919.      Collection    of    pointings,    drawings, 

engravings,  etc.,   by  John   Gadsby  Chapman    and    Conrad   Wise    Chapman 

in  the  Virginia  State  Library,    p.  73-104.    $  .25. 
Bulletin,   v.    13,   nos.    1-2,   Jan.-April,    1920.      A   list   of   the    portraits    and    pieces 

of  statuary  in  the  Virginia  State  Library,  with  notes   and   illustrations.  29 

p.    $  .50. 

Bulletin,  v.  13,  no.  3,  July,  1920.     Index  to  Mrs.  Cabell's  "Sketches  and  recollec- 
tions of  Lynchburg."    p.  31-45.    $  .10. 
Bulletin,  v.  13,  no.  4,  Oct.,  1920.    Books  for  the  blind  in  the  Virginia  State  Library. 

p.  47-62. 

Bulletin,  v.  14,  no.  1,  Jan.,  1921.     Handbook  of  the  Virginia  State  Library.     Com- 
piled by  W.  S.  Hall.    36  p. 

Calendar  of  transcripts  in  the  Virginia  State  Library.     1905.     658  p.     $3.00. 
List  of  references  on  the  Torrens  system  of  land  registration.     By  J.  P.  Kennedy. 

1906.    31  p. 

Legislative  reference  lists  for  various  years,  published  in  leaflet  or  pamphlet  form. 
Leaflets:    Reprints  of  various  historic  documents  of  Virginia. 


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